Weed Problems and Weed Control in the Commonwealth Caribbean

Hammerton, John L.

doi:10.1080/09670878109413809

Cited by 19 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…1980; Navie et al . 1996b); cause serious human health problems (McFadyen 1995); and be a significant weed of crops (Hammerton 1981). In heavily infested areas the carrying capacity of pastures can be reduced to near zero, and entire properties have reported a 40% reduction in productivity (McFadyen 1992).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Germinable soil seedbanks of central Queensland rangelands invaded by the exotic weed Parthenium hysterophorus L.

Navie

Panetta²,

McFadyen³

et al. 2004

Weed Biology and Management

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The germinable soil seedbank was determined at two sites in central Queensland on four separate occasions between February 1995 and October 1996. These sites were infested with parthenium weed ( Parthenium hysterophorus L.), a serious invasive exotic weed. During this period, the seedbank varied between 3282 and 5094 seeds m -2 at the Clermont site, and between 20 599 and 44 639 seeds m -2 at the Moolayember Creek site. Parthenium hysterophorus exhibited a very abundant and persistent seedbank, accounting for 47-73% of the seedbank at Clermont and 65-87% of the seedbank at Moolayember Creek. The species richness and species diversity of the seedbank, and the seed abundance of many species, was lower at Moolayember Creek during spring (the time of year when the most dense infestations of the weed originate). Parthenium hysterophorus seedlings also emerged more rapidly from the soil samples than did those of all other species. Hence, it seems that various aspects of the weed's seed ecology, including abundance and the persistence of its seedbank and the rapid emergence of its seedlings, are major factors contributing to its aggressiveness in semiarid rangeland communities in central Queensland. The domination by P . hysterophorus of the seedbanks of these sites suggests that the weed is having a substantial negative impact on the ecology of these plant communities. The diversity of these seedbanks was found to be lower in comparison with that observed in other grassland communities that were not dominated by an invasive weed species. Hence, the prolonged presence of P . hysterophorus may have substantially reduced the diversity of these seedbanks, thereby reducing the ability of some of the native species to regenerate in the future.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Germinable soil seedbanks of central Queensland rangelands invaded by the exotic weed Parthenium hysterophorus L.

Navie

Panetta²,

McFadyen³

et al. 2004

Weed Biology and Management

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“…Mass introduction of P. hysterophorus to eastern Ethiopia is believed to have occurred along with army vehicles during the Ethiopian-Somalian war of 1976 where it has now emerged as one of the most troublesome weeds of both grazing and crop lands (Tamado & Milberg, 2000). Parthenium hysterophorus is considered as a noxious weed because of its prolific seed production and fast spreading ability (Haseler, 1976), allelopathic effect on other plants (Picman & Picman, 1984;Adkins & Sowerby, 1996), strong competitiveness with crops (Hammerton, 1981;Khosla & Sobti, 1981;Tamado et al, 2002) and health hazard to humans (Khosla & Sobti, 1979) as well as animals (Chippendale & Panetta, 1994).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Germination ecology of the weed Parthenium hysterophorus in eastern Ethiopia

Tana

Schütz²,

Milberg

2002

Annals of Applied Biology

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Germination ecology of Parthenium hysterophorus, recently introduced to Ethiopia, was studied in a series of experiments. Viability of the seeds was greater than 50% after 26 months of burial in the soil indicating the potential build-up of a substantial persistent soil seed bank. A short period of dry storage was sufficient to overcome a light requirement for germination in a minor fraction of the seeds. Likewise, seeds exhumed from burial showed an increase in germination ability in darkness over time, with a weak tendency for seasonal cyclicity in dormancy level at one of two sites. Germination occurred at the mean minimum (10°C) and maximum (25°C) temperatures of the collection sites, as well as over a wide range of fluctuating (12/2°C-35/25°C) temperatures in light. No germination of P. hysterophorus seeds occurred at osmotic potentials < -0.52 MPa (at 27°C), the species being less tolerant to moisture stress than sorghum grains. Most seedlings emerged from shallowly buried (< 0.5 cm) seeds and none from more than 5 cm depth. Naturally dispersed seeds required about 60 days, at a hot lowland site, to start emergence despite the presence of adequate rainfall, and higher number of seedlings emerged in undisturbed plots than in hand hoed plots. These experiments and field observations suggest that there are no obvious climatic conditions that may limit the germination of Parthenium hysterophorus in Ethiopia, but a high moisture requirement of the seeds for germination could be the major factor limiting germination during the dry season.

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“…A major production constraint of these farmers is the management of watergrass (Commelina diffusa), a noxious weed that competes with the banana crop for available soil nutrients. It is considered to be a serious weed in banana (Hammerton, 1981), and is also associated with the reniformis and burrowing nematodes that attack the roots of the banana plants and cause them to topple easily. The use of herbicides has been the predominant method to control weeds over the years and, according to Labrada (1994) may have been the major factor that led to the predominance of certain weed types.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Farmers’ Attitude towards a Participatory Research Method Used to Evaluate Weed Management Strategies in Bananas

Ganpat

Isaac

Brathwaite

et al. 2009

The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension

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In this study, farmers were engaged in a participatory research project and their attitudes evaluated. The purpose was to identify the characteristics of farmers who are favourably predisposed towards meaningful participation in the process. Several cover crops were tested for possible use in the management of watergrass (Commelina diffusa), a noxious weed in banana cultivation. Small, limited-resource farmers were exposed to the essentials of systematic research through a process of experiential learning using participatory techniques. Thirty-six farmers evaluated three cover crops against the current weed control practice of farmers, which served as the control. Farmers and researchers collaborated on the experimental design, treatment allocation, data to be collected and the form of the analysis. Summary data were subjected by the farmers to the Overlap Test to evaluate differences among the treatments. Results indicated that one cover crop, Desmodium heterocarpon, was better than the others in controlling watergrass. These results were confirmed by ANOVA.A Likert-type scale, used to assess farmers' attitude, showed that overall, farmers were generally favourable towards the process. Differences in responses to attitudinal statements were based mainly on farmers' differing education levels. Some level of attrition was experienced in this process, mainly by the older and more experienced farmers. The younger, less experienced farmers completed the trials to a large extent. The results provide useful information for the selection of farmers to be involved in future participatory technology development initiatives.

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Weed Problems and Weed Control in the Commonwealth Caribbean

Cited by 19 publications

References 3 publications

Germinable soil seedbanks of central Queensland rangelands invaded by the exotic weed Parthenium hysterophorus L.

Germinable soil seedbanks of central Queensland rangelands invaded by the exotic weed Parthenium hysterophorus L.

Germination ecology of the weed Parthenium hysterophorus in eastern Ethiopia

Farmers’ Attitude towards a Participatory Research Method Used to Evaluate Weed Management Strategies in Bananas

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