Weed Research (2005) 45, 121-129
R.O. Karar, B.F. Mohamed and R.H. Marrs (2005)
Factors influencing the weed flora in the Gezira Scheme, Sudan
Weed Research 45 (2), 121-129
Abstract: Agriculture plays a major role in the economic and social development of Sudan. The most important agricultural area in Sudan is the irrigated Gezira Agricultural Scheme (GAS), which takes water from the Sennar Dam on the Blue Nile. This study investigated weed communities in relation to geographical location and crop rotation in 2000 and 2001. Five agricultural units were sampled from the central sector of the GAS; within each unit we surveyed weed communities in different phases of the crop rotation: cotton, groundnuts, sorghum, and a fallow. The distribution of weed species showed some similarities in the 2 years sampled, with most species being found in all agricultural units but their relative proportions differed. Broad-leaved weeds were dominant, suggesting that herbicides selected for weed control in the Gezira scheme need to be effective against this group of species. Agricultural unit and crop type affected weed communities in both years. The weed flora was largest in cotton, intermediate in groundnuts and sorghum, and smallest in the fallow. Although most weeds were found in all agricultural units; however, their relative abundances differed greatly, either as a result of differences in management between the units, or some other spatial effect. As such, weed control programmes need to be tailored at the agricultural unit scale.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Rob H. Marrs
Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
environment - cropping system/rotation
