PertanikaJ. Trop. Agric. Sci. 27(1): 57 - 64 (2004) ISSN: 1511-3701> Universiti Putra Malaysia Press
Predominant Weeds of Some Cereal Crops in theScrub Savannah Region of Nigeria
*JAFUN, F.B. & S.D. ABDULBiological Sciences Programme
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University,RM.B. 0248, Bauchi, Nigeria
Keywords: Weed, cereal, Bauchi, rice, maize, sorghum
ABSTRACK
Satu kajian telah dikendalikan untuk menentukan populasi spesies rumpai yang tumbuh di ladang-ladangbijirin (jagung, padi dan betari) di sesetengah tempat kawasan savanah semak-samun Nigeria semasa musimpenanaman 1996-1998 dengan tujuan penyediaan maklumat untuk pengurusan rumpai yang berkesan. Enampuluh kawasan di Gubi, Mm, Inkil, Lukshi dan Birshin Fulani dipilih untuk kajian tersebut Sampel-sampelrumpai dikutip dalam kuadran 50 cm x 50 cm dan dikenal pasti menggunakan teks standard dan koleksiherbarium Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi Nigeria. Di kawasan kajian, 66 spesies rumpai yangtergolong pada 58 genera dalam 18 keluarga dikenal pasti. Daripada jumlah tersebut, 41 (62.12%) spesiesadalah daun lebar, 17 (25.76) rumpai rumput dan 8 (12.12%) sendayan. Rumpai dominan adalah spesiesCyperus, Commelina, Kyllinga, Digitaria, Echinochloa, Imperata, Cynodon, Leucas dan Chloris.Taburan spesies rumpai adalah mengikut jenis tanaman dan kawasan pengumpulan.
ABSTRACT
A survey was conducted to determine the weed species populations inhabiting cereal farms (maize, rice andsorghum) in some parts of the scrub savannah region of Nigeria during the growing seasons of 1996-1998 withthe aim of providing information for effective weed management. Sixty sites in Gubi, Miri, Inkil, Lukshi andBirshin Fulani were selected for the study. Weed samples were collected within 50cm x 50 cm quadrants and wereidentified using standards texts and collections of the herbarium of the Abubakar Tafawa Belawa University,Bauchi, Nigeria. In the survey sites, 66 weed species belonging to 58 genera within 18 families were identified.Of these, 41 (62.12%) species were broad-leaves, 17 (25.76%) were grass weeds and 8 (12.12%) were sedges.The dominant weeds were Cyperus, Commelina, Kyllinga, Digitaria, Echinochloa, Imperata, Cynodon,Leucas and Chloris species. The distribution of weed species varied with crop type and site of collection.
INTRODUCTION
Maize (Zea mays L.), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor(L.) Moench) and rice (Oryza sativa L.) are themajor cereals grown in the scrub savannah regionof Nigeria. The yields of these cereals aregenerally low despite their importance as staplefoods and the interest of farmers in production.The factors associated with low yields includeerratic rainfall, diseases, low soil fertility, weedinfestation and use of un-improved local varieties.
Of these factors, weed infestation isconsidered a major limitation to cereal
production in this area. Although no accuratedata on losses caused by weeds in this area areavailable, crop losses of between 40-66% (Weberet al, 1995; Udensi et al, 1999) and as high as100% (Akobundu 1987) have been reported forthe Northern Guinea savannah.
Despite the recent development of highlyintensive cereal based production systems, weedsand the labour required for weed control arestill the most important production constraintsin this area. The objective of weed control incereals is to reduce weed population to levelsthat do not affect yield, quality and harvesting.
Corresponding Author
JAFUN, F.B. 8c S.D. ABDUL
To achieve this effectively and economically willrequire a strategy based on the knowledge of thetype and distribution of weeds in differentlocalities. However, very little is known aboutthe weed populations affecting cereals in thisarea. A study of weeds of the northern GuineaSavannah by Weber et al (1995) was limited toKaduna and Katsina States. Okafor and Adegbite(1991) only carried out a survey of weeds ofcowpea fields in Bauchi area.
The objective of this study is to identify thevarious weeds affecting cereals in some parts ofscrub savannah region of Nigeria. The resultswill provide baseline data for developing weedmanagement strategies.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A survey of common weed flora of cereal farmswas carried out from 1996-1998. The study areaswere Inkil, Gubi, Miri, Lukshi and Birshin Fulani.These areas were selected because they areintensively cultivated. The study areas are locatedin the scrub savannah of Nigeria at an elevationof 609.45m and latitude and longitude of 10°22'N and 9° 47'E respectively. The area has anaverage annual rainfall of 905 mm distributedover a growing period of between 150-180 days,which is followed by a pronounced dry seasonfrom October to April.
Four farms each devoted to rice, maize orsorghum were randomly selected in each locationand were tagged for sample collection. Therewas no interference in the management practicesof the farmers. Weed samples were collectedwithin 50cm x 50 cm quadrants from 10 locationsin each farm. Collected weed samples werecounted and identified using standard texts(Rains 1968; Akobundu and Agyakwa 1987; Terryand Michieka 1988). Identification was laterconfirmed at the herbarium of the AbubakarTafawa Balewa University, Bauchi.
Frequency of occurrence was calculated asthe percentage of farms in which a certain weedspecies was present. The relative occurrence ofweed species in relation to crop and site ofcollection was also estimated.
Data obtained were subjected to two wayanalysis of variance to determine whether therewere significant differences in weeds occurrencesbetween sites of collection and crop type.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Sixty six weeds species belonging to 58 generawithin 18 families were identified (Tables 1 and2). This flora represents about 73% of the totalnumber of weed species identified in theNorthern Guinea savannah of Nigeria (Weber etal, 1995). This value is low compared to the 275plant species recorded around Kano town byHussain and Karatela (1989). Forty of the generaidentified were mong the 60 genera recorded byWeber et al (1995). An earlier study by Okaforand Adegbite (1991) in cowpea fields in theBauchi area recorded 21 weed genera, whichwere all recorded in this study. Weed speciesidentified consisted of 41 (62.12%) broad-leaves(Table;), 17 (25.76%) grasses and 8 (12.12%)sedges (Table 2). A similar study by Kandasamyet al. (2000) in India recorded a proportion of46.7% broad-leaves, 43.5% grasses and 9.8%sedges. Jung et al. (1999) recorded 9 species ofgrasses, 44 species of broad-leaves and 3 speciesof sedges in apple orchards in Korea. About 101weed species belonging to 32 families werereported from vegetable farms in Kangwon alphicregion of Korea (Kim et al. 1999). These trendstend to suggest that the distribution of weedspecies varies with location and crop undercultivation. About 47.69% of all species recordedbelonged to the families of Poaceae, Cyperaceaeand Asteraceae with the family Poaceae havingthe highest number of representative species(17). A striking feature of the flora in the cerealfarms was the dominance of Commelina, Kyllinga,Imperata, Digitaria, Echinochloa, Cyperus, Cynodon,Ijeucas and Chloris species which constituted about13.64% of the total weed species and were foundin more than 70% of the fields. Commelina andDigitaria species regarded as the most commonweeds of Bauchi area by Okafor and Adegbite(1991) were also found to be dominant in thisstudy. However, there was a significant increasein the number of dominant weeds in the studyarea. This increase could be attributed to therapid changes towards intensive land use andcropping patterns. Earlier studies have shownthat the distribution and abundance of weedspecies in cereal crops depend on the system ofcultivation, infestation in previous crops andrecurrent bush fires (Tottman and Wilson 1990;Garrity et al 1997).
58 PERTANIKAJ. TROP. AGRIC. SCI. VOL. 27 NO. 1, 2004
PREDOMINANT WEEDS OF SOME CEREAL. CROPS IN THE SCRUB SAVANNAH REGION OF NIGERIA
TABLE 1Broad-leaf weed species and the frequency of occurrence (% fields infested)
of cereal farms in the scrub savannah region of Nigeria
Family
Amaranthaceae
Asteraceae
•
Caesalpiniaceae
Commelinaceae
CleomaceaeConvolvulaceae
Euphorbiaceae
I^biatae
MalvaceaeNyctaginaceae
Papilionaceae
Portulacaceae
Rubiaceae
SolanaceaeScrophulariaceae
Tiliaceae
Genus
AmaranthusAmaranthusAlternathera
CelosiaAgeratum
A canthospermumAspilia
ChrysanthemumBidensTridax
SynedrellaCassia
DaniellaCommelina
Aneikma spCleome
Evolvus spJpomoeaIpomoeaAcalypha
EuphorbiaEuphorbiaHyptis sp
LeucasAbuliton spBoerhaviaBoerhavia
AeschynomeneCrotalaria
Desmodium spIndigofera sp
TalinumPortula
OldenlandiaBorreria sp
MitracarpuschwenkiaBuchnera
StrigaScoparia
Corchorus
Species
hybridusspinosussessiles
leptostachyaconyzoideshispidumafricana
americanumpilosa
procumbensnodiflora
obtusifoliaoliveri
benghalensis
afrospinosa
septariadichroahispida
heterophyllahirta
martinicensis
erectadiffusa
virginicacuspida
triangulateolerocea
corymbosa
villosusamericanum
hispidahermonthica
dulcisolitorius
Occurrence(% of farms)
8.766.634.813.57
42.7851.0927.7117.5424.9234.7815.7615.297.68
82.549.466.732.9719.3213.1716.7013.085.7621.5078.1817.9132.114.4316.244.909.1018.102.318.5543.3616.3722.3741.689.6762.3310.5631.43
PERTANIKAJ. TROP. AGRIC. SCI. VOL. 27 NO. 1, 2004 59
JAFUN, F.B. & S.D. ABDUL
TABLE 2Grasses/sedges weed species and the frequency of occurrence (% field infested)
of cereal farms in the scrub savannah region of Nigeria
Family Genus Species Occurrence(% of farms)
Cyperaceae
Poaceae
CyperusCyperusCyperusCyperusKyllingaMariscusMariscus
Setaria
BtachiariaAndropogon
ChlorisEluesine
PennisetumEragrotis
SetariaImperata
PaspalumDigitariaPanicum
Scleragrotis spRottboelhaCynodon
EchinochloaAgeratum
Euclasta spDactyloctenium
esculentusrotundustuberosus
sphacelatussquamulataalternifoliumumbellatusvertidllata
dejlexagayanus
pilosaindica
polystachioncilianensisvertidllatacylindricalorbicularehngifloramaximum
cochinchinensisdactyloncolona
conyzoides
aegyptium
60.1452.5035.2220.2976.6344.2025.404.96
21.1910.6071.2029,1035.6019.6027.2873.177.9875.6558.3016.4844.7366.0186.4351.0625.8457.23
The distribution of weed species accordingto crop type and area of collection is presentedin Tables 3, 4 and 5. Weeds species distributionvaried significantly (P<0.05) with cereal croptype and site of collection. Rice farms with 38species which is equivalent to 58.46% of overallspecies identified had the highest number ofspecies per crop type (Table 3), while sorghumwith a record of 32 species (49.23%) had thelowest number of weed species (Table 5). Of the38 species from rice farms, 8 were sedges, 10grasses and 20 broad-leaves, with Cyperus speciesand Echinochloa colona being the most dominantspecies. On maize farms, 14 grass species, 2sedges and 25 broad-leaves were identified.Similarly, sorghum farms recorded 11 grass, 20broad-leaves and 1 sedge species. Cynodon
dactylon and Striga hermonthica were the mostdominant species in maize and sorghum farmsrespectively. Nineteen of the species identifiedwere common to rice and maize farms, while 12species were common to all three crops.
Results of this study provide evidence thatthere is an increase in the number of dominantweeds and that the distribution of weeds speciesvaries with the area of collection and crop types.Further studies need to be carried out on thedeterminants of weed communities and theimplication in the management of theses weeds.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The financial support of the Abubakar TafawaBalewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria is gratefullyacknowledged.
PERTANIKAJ. TROP. AGRIC. SCI. VOL. 27 NO. 1, 2004
PREDOMINANT WEEDS OF SOME CEREAL CROPS IN THE SCRUB SAVANNAH REGION OF NIGERIA
TABLE 3Weed flora of rice farms in the scrub savannah region of Nigeria
Family
Amaranthaceae
Asteraceae
Commelinaceae
Convolvulaceae
Cyperaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Poaceae
Portulaceae
RubiaceaeTiliaceae
Genus
AmaranthusAmaranthus
AlternatheraCelosia
AgeratumAcanthospermum
AspiliaChrysanthemum
BidensSynedreUaCommelina
Aneilema spEvolvulus sp
IpomoeaCyperusCyperusCyperusCyperusKyllingaMariscusMariscusSetaria
AcalyphaEuphorbiaBrachiaria
ChlorisPennisetumPaspalumImperataDigitariaPanicum
RoettboelliaCynodon
EchinochloaTalinumPortula
MitracavpusCorchorus
Species
hybndusspinosussessiles
leptostachyaconyzoideshispidumafricana
americanumpilosa
nodiflorabenghalensis
septaria
esculentusrotundustuberosus
sphacelatussquamulataaltemifoliumumbellatusverticillata
hispidaheterophylla
dejkxapilosa
polystachionorbicularecylindricallongifloramaximum
cochinchinensisdactyloncolona
triangulareoleraceaevillosusolitorius
Miri
6.2158.1335.103.2110.6726.597.56
-
15.0820.2631.093.1317.54
-
32.5758.0620.2010.3957.6241.876.2110.0126.151.74
21.1971.2038.607.98
44.2065.6029.2041.0653.1376.510.001.847.6819.05
Occurrence
Gubi
41.8711.8030.084.43107021.2617.701.4613.2527.9341.152.8924.924.14
55.4662.1514.635.7165.0324.263.3710.6717.935.919.1833.6013.8626.4373.1747.1455.2318.9779.6793.801.761.16
19.3234.12
by Location (%)
Inkil
3.378.5928.223.5653.0933.1028.22
-12.7311.0517.13
-
51.0958.0632.1232.3918.4119.6570.6733.1014,4635.01
-
14.5138.7048.1427.31
-
16.4875.6530.9158.3274.8969.73
-
8.8721.5028.07
B/Fulani
_
15.8817.7043.3510.0125.1030.08
-
12,8939.8444.535.08
-
11.3839.8640.6136.99
-
51.9230.19
- ,13.175.8840.67
-62.117.8918.9366.0138.1336.5560.2355.2354.21
-
5.02-
37.22
Lukshi
m
9.2717.054.2613.1730.1935.108.813.13
-
31.243.25
42.2623.0258.6151.9231.67
-
68.0325.103.64
-
32.3922.080.69
59.3341.2313.5457.2353.0164.3839.8763.2283.28
--
7.6816.76
PERTANIKAJ. TROP. AGRIC. SCI. VOL. 27 NO. 1, 2004
JAFUN, F.B. & S.D. ABDUL
TABLE 4Weed flora of maize farms in the scrub savannah region of Nigeria
Family
Amaranthaceae
Asteraceae
Caesalpiniaceae
Commelinaceae
Convolvulaceae
CyperaceaeEuphorbiaceae
LabiataeNyctaginaceae
Papilionaceae
Poaceae
RubiaceaeScrophylariaceae
Genus
CelosiaAmaranthus
BidensTridax
AcanthospermumCassia
DaniellaCleome
CommelinaAneilema spEvolvulus sp
IpomoeaCyperus
AcalyphaEuphorbia
I^ucasHyptis spBoerhaviaBoerhaviaCrotalaria
Indigofera spEuclasta spPennisetum
SetariaPaspalumImperataDigitariaPanicum
RottboelliaCynodonEragrotis
Scleragrotis spChloris spBrachiariaEleusine
OldenlandiaStriga
BuchneraAlectra sp
Species
leptostachyaspinosuspilosa
procumbenshispidumobtusifolia
oliveriafrospinosabenghalensis
dichroaesculentussegetalis
hirtamartinicensis
erectadiffusacuspida
polystachionverticillataorbicularecylindricallongifloramaximum
cochinchinensis
dactyloncilianensis
pilosadeflexaindica
corymhosahermonthica
hispida
Miri
3.2815.748.2841.0733.56
---
30.311.612.98
4 6.9334.98
-9.7925.84
-33.413.032.32
-13.148.552.096.13
21.4713.4339.3862.1258.1245.354.4118.635.2028.48
-55.162.0414.13
Occurrence
Gubi
4.211.92
13.0410.0811.73
--
0.859.30
-3.6413.8620.161.0615.764.604.4519.921.56
--
8.222.981.852.2316.1118.0734.0923.1276.6225.117.2330.099.6131.23
_19.931.112.82
By Location (%)
Inkil
7.519.1515.533.2539.04
-2.60
-15.68
--
10.2237.621.70
28.25-
1.6434.660.93
--
8.911.931.012.4118.2225.2846.5361.6767.2115.1629.5742.131.25
25.02
_60.33
--
B/Fulani
5.397.689.3416.5728.676.591.73
-37.121.092.0912.6126.171.58
37.5212.203.2135.07
-3.030.972.233.64
-1.704.9843.3437.3325.2853.1024.0817.5028.4112.5721.14
»47.211.313.67
Lukshi
8.8324.622.7635.1125.94
--
6.5922.603.881.85
26.2732.235.2434.179.633.0118.34
-
1.611.13
14.67-
4.036.11
-
14.3123.1862.7639.3341.1823.5337.162.5913.86
3.8834.763.466.41
PERTANIKAJ. TROP. AGRIC. SCI. VOL. 27 NO. 1, 2004
PREDOMINANT WEEDS OF SOME CEREAL CROPS IN THE SCRUB SAVANNAH REGION OF NIGERIA
TABLE 5Weed flora of sorghum farms in the scrub savannah region of Nigeria
Family
AmaranthaceaeAsteraceae
Caesalpiniaceae
CommelinaceaeCyperaceae
Labiatae
MalvaceaePapilionaceae
Poaceae
RubiaceaeSolanaceae
Scrophulariaceae
Tiliaceae
Genus
AmaranthusA canthospermum
SynedrellaCassia
DaniellaCleome
CommelinaCyperus
Hyptis spLeu cas
Abuliton spAeschynomene
CrotalariaIndigofera sp
BrachiariaEragrostis
AndropogonScleragrotis sp
EleusineDactyloctenium
DigitariaRottboelliaCynodonPanicumChloris
AgeratumOldenlandiaSchwenkia
Striga
BuchneraScopariaCorchorus
Species
spinosushispidumnodiflora
obtusifoliaoliver
afrospinosa
benghalensisesculentus
martinicensis
virginicacuspida
deflexacilianensisgayanus
indicaaegyptiumlongiflora
cochinchinendactylon
maximumpilosa
conyzoidescorymbosa
americanumhermonthica
hispidadulcis
olitricus
i
Miri
43.8129.42219.782.581.38
-
3.2934.9813.3629.193.75
-33.494.51
35.0437.4725.482.33
54.205.9449.954.9161.091.398.0333.766.424.43
87.422.719,2718.03
Dccurrence
Gubi
21.67.90
22.44--
2.133,0720.163.7613.748.19
--
5.01
25.418.1928.4111.847,336.26
40,1631.2223.533.32
37.4245.112.513.16
51.09-
4.3951.18
By Location (%)
Inkil
25.4310.6127.903.23
-5.3937.6215.2326.382.045.05
-
23.01
60.1220.4443.127.24
36.739.4536.0372.6327.83
-13.0157.03
--
58.827.813.55
4071
B/Fulani
21.8719.8011.12
--
-
3.5326.17
-7.8916.93
--
1.92
38.2012.1250.932.8216.10
-
77.8151.167.922.9712.7028.679.476.2763.833.317.89
29.16
Lukshi
33.5220.535.611.821.13
-
6.9832.2311.2132.01
-
0.82-
4.09
51.3216.9325.48
-
39.204.3626.8521.3550.202.7834.5946.434.133.6775.031.56
-
13.34
REFERENCES
AKOBUNDU, I. O. 1987. Weed Science in the Tropics:Principles and Practices, Chichester, New York,Brisbane, Toronto, Singapore: John Wiley &Sons. 522 p.
AKOBUNDU, I. O. and C.W. AGYAGWA. 1987. A
Handbook of West African Weeds. IbadanNigeria: International Institute of TropicalAgriculture.
GARRITY, D.P., M. SOEKADI, M. VAN NOORDWIJK, R.
DELA CRUZ, P.S. PATHAK, H.P.M. GURASENA, N.VANSO, G. NUIJUN and N.M. MAJID. 1997. The
Imperata grasslands of tropical Asia: Area
distribution and typology. Agroforestry Systems36: 1-29.
HUSSAIN, H.S.N. and YY. KARATELA. 1989. Weedsflora of Kano and its environs. NigerianJournal of Weed Science 2: 1-7.
JUNG, J.S., J.S. LEE and CD. CHOI. 1999. Weedoccurrence of apple orchard in autumn.Korean Journal of Weed Science 19(3): 185-196.
KANDASAMY, O.S., H.C. BAYAN, P. SANTHY and D.
SELVI. 2000. Long term effects of fertilizerapplication and three crop rotation onchanges in weed species in the 68th cropping.Acta Agronomica Hungarica 48(2): 149-154.
PERTANIKA J. TROP. AGRIC. SCI. VOL. 27 NO. 1, 2004 63
JAFUN, F.B. & S.D. ABDUL
KIM, S., G. CHANG, M. AHU, Y. KIM, K. HWANG, J.
HUR and D. HAN. 1999. A survey of vegetativecrop weeds in Kangwom Alphic area, KoreanJournal of Weed Science 19(4): 288-298.
OKAFOR, L. I. and M. ADEGBITE. 1991. Predominantweeds of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) inBauchi State. Nigerian Journal of Weed Science4: 11-15.
RAINS, A.B. 1968. A Field Guide to the CommonerGenera of Nigerian Grasses. Zaria, Nigeria:Institute for Agricultural Research. Samarumiscellaneous Paper, 7.
TERRY, PJ. and R.W. MICHIEKA. 1988. CommonWeeds of East Africa. Rome, Italy: Food andAgriculture Organisation of the UnitedNations.
TOTTMAN, D.R. and BJ. WILSON.. 1990. Weedcontrol in small grain cereals. In Weed ControlHandbook: Principles ed. R. J. Hance and H.Holly, p. 301-328. Oxford, London,Edinburgh, Hoston, Melbourne: BlackwellScientific Publication.
UDENSI, E.U., I.O. AKOBUNDU A.O. AYENI and D.
CHIKOYE. 1999. Management of Cogon grass{Imperata cylindrical using velvet bean(Mucuna pruriens var. utilis) and herbicides.Weed Technology 13: 201-208.
WEBER, G., K. ELEMO and S.T.O. LAGOKE. 1995.Weed communities in intensified cereal-based cropping systems of the NorthernGuinea Savannah. Weed Research 35: 167-178.
(Received: 12 December 2001)(Accepted: 20 June 2005)
64 PERTANIKAJ. TROP. AGRIC. SCI. VOL. 27 NO. 1, 2004