Vol. 10, Special Issue 11 (2021)

Author(s):
NV Sarala, M Hemanth Kumar, B Vajantha and M Shathi Priya

Abstract:
A field survey was conducted during 2019-2020 in sugarcane fields of Chittoor district of southern agro climatic zone of Andhra Pradesh to study the weed flora. Field surveys at random sugarcane fields have been well explored covering all the geographical areas of Chittoor district for weed survey. The weeds encountered in the field sites of the crop fields were carefully collected and identified. The location for recording the composition and density of various weed species selected was about 200 meters away from the road. Species-wise weed counts were made from five spots in the crop field using a quadrat of 50 cm x 50 cm size. Data were analysed to determine density (D), frequency (F), Relative density (Re.D), Relative frequency (Re.F) and Importance Value Index (IVI).Study on weed survey indicated that sugarcane crop both plant and ratoon was infested with a total of 42 weed species, which included 08 grasses, one sedge and 33 broad leaf weeds of different families. In sugarcane plant crop the important value index revealed that most important grassy weeds with in the community, Cynodon dactylon, Digitaria sanguinalis, Chloris barbata, Dactyloctenium aegyptium, Panicum repens and Echinochloa colona. Under broad leaved weeds; Coccinia grandis, Cleome viscosa, Convolvulus arvensis, Alternanthera sessilis and Commelina benghalensis were dominated. Where as In ratoon sugarcane, Cynodon dactylon, Digitaria sanguinalis, Chloris barbata, Soprobolas sp were dominated grassy weeds. Trianthema portulacastrum, Phyllanthus niruri, Parthenium hysterophorus, Digeria arvensis, Clitoria ternatea and Ipomoea aquatic dominated broad leaved weeds. Cyperus rotundus is major dominated sedge in both plant and ratoon crop.