Weed species diversity as influenced by sugarcane genotypes, trash mulch and weed management practices at Badeggi, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was carried out to evaluate weed species composition based on observation and changes in response to trash mulch and weed management practices in two sugarcane genotypes in 2016 and 2017. The treatments consisted of factorial combination of two genotypes (Bida local and NCS 001), four sugarcane trash mulch levels (0, 3, 6, 9 t ha-1) and four weed management practices (weedy check, 5 monthly hoe weeding (5 MHW), pre-emergence (PE) application of diuron at 2 kg a.iha-1 + Post-Emergence (POE) of 3-maize force at 179.2gha-1 + two hoe weeding (2HW) and PE diuron + POE 3-maize force arranged in a split plot design and replicated three times. Weed management practices and trash mulch constitute the main plot while sugarcane genotypes constitute the subplot. Based on the importance value, the results indicated that Paspalum scrobiculatum (Linn), Brachiaria deflexa (Schumach) C.E, Eleusine indica (L.), Brachiaria jubata (Fig & De Not.), Seteria barbata (Lasr.) Kunth, Dactylactenum aegyptium (Linn), Digitaria milangina (Wild.), Kyllinga squamulata (Thorn.ex Vahl), Phyllanthus niruri (Schum & Thonn), Commelina benghalensis (L.), Corchorus olitorius (L.), Hyptis suaveolens (Poit), Digitaria nuda (Schumach.) and Cyperus esculentus (Linn) were the most important weeds in sugarcane fields in both years of study area. The most notable weeds associated with the sugarcane crop were grasses followed by sedges families. Weed control methods in sugarcane should be made towards the control of grasses and sedges species.