Diversity and Ecological characteristics of Weed Flora in Maize and Wheat crops of Tehsil Sarai Naurang, Lakki Marwat, Pakistan

Abstract

The weed flora in agricultural ecosystems plays a significant role in shaping crop productivity and ecosystem balance. The present study aimed to investigate the diversity and ecological characteristics of weed species infesting maize and wheat crops in Tehsil Sarai Naurang, Lakki Marwat, Pakistan. A total of 93 species were found in which 22 (23.65%) species were monocots and 71(76.34%) species were dicots. The plant species were belonged to 31 families and 77 genera. The monocots had 2 (6.45%) families with 22 (23.65%) species, others belonged to dicots with 29 (93.54%) families and 71(76.34%) species. Among monocots the leading family was Poaceae with 20 (21.50%) weed species followed by Cyperaceae with 2(2.15%) weeds species. Among dicots the leading families were Asteraceae contained 9 (9.67%) weeds species, Solanaceae 8 (8.60%) species, Amaranthaceae 7(7.52%) species, Euphorbiaceae 6 (6.46%) and Chenopodiaceae had 5 (5.37%) species. The ecological study was conducted in which weed flora were classified into various biological classes. The major habit class was herbs with 87 (93.54%) weed species, weeds with shruby character were 5 (5.37%) species and tree had only 1 (1.07%) species. The most common categories regarding life forms were Therophytes with 70 (75.26%) species, Hemicryptophytes with 10 (10.75%) species, Geophytes with 7 (7.52%) species, Chamaephytes and Nanophanerophytes with 3 (3.22%) species. The major classes regarding leaf sizes were Microphyll 33 (35.48%) species, Mesophyll with 22 (23.65%) species, Nanophyll with 20 (21.50%) species, and Macrophyll with 13 (13.97%) species and Leptophyll with 5 (5.37%) weed species. In study area 9 (9.57%) species were collected at pre-reproductive stage, 78 (82.97%) species at reproductive stage and 7 (7.44%) species were at the stage of post-reproductive. The most common weed waere Alhagi maurorum, Chenopodium species, Convolvulus arvensis, Cyperus rotundus, Cynodon dactylon, Desmostachya bipinnata, Eragrostis minor, Conyza canadensis, Parthenium hysterophorus, Sonchus asper, Amaranthus species and Euphorbia species were common in the research area. Weeds often compete with cultivated crops for resources and must be eradicated before flowering and fruiting to prevent seed dispersal and proliferation. Effective weed management strategies, including timely eradication and adoption of integrated weed management practices, should be incorporated into agricultural policies to minimize yield losses and promote sustainable crop production.