Top Ten Books on Research Methodology

 

^*Snehal N. Dhawale and A. N. Deore

*Department of Botany, M.S.P. Arts, Science and K.P.T. Commerce College, Manora Dist. Washim (MS)

Department of Botany, S.S.S.K.R.Innani Mahavidyalaya karanja (Lad) Dist. Washim (MS)

 

Abstract

Weeds are undesirable plants that compete with crops for essential resources such as nutrients, water, light, and space, thereby reducing agricultural productivity. Weed management is particularly challenging in species possessing underground rhizomes due to their high regenerative capacity. Although the flora of the Washim district was documented by Deore (2010), no comprehensive weed survey had been undertaken in the region over the past sixteen years. The present study was therefore conducted to update and document the weed diversity of the district.

A systematic field survey was carried out from 2020 to 2025 in irrigated and unirrigated agricultural fields across different talukas of Washim District. A total of 210 weed species belonging to 140 genera and 37 families were recorded. The genus Ipomoea was found to be the most dominant, while Poaceae emerged as the largest family with 38 species. Unirrigated fields were mainly dominated by Parthenium hysterophorus, celosia argentia, Xanthium strumarium, Boerhavia erecta, Euphorbia geniculata, Acalypha spp., and Phyllanthus spp. In contrast, irrigated fields showed dominance of Anagallis arvensis, Dinebra retroflexa, Melilotus alba, Convolvulus arvensis, Digera muricata, Moorochloa eruciformis, Launea procumbens, and Sonchus spp. The study provides updated baseline information on weed diversity that will support effective weed management and future ecological studies in the region.

Keywords:  Agricultural weeds, Floristic survey, Washim District, Poaceae, Weed management

 

 

Introduction

Weeds are establishing themselves in agricultural and non-agricultural habitats where they interfere with crop growth by competing for vital resources, leading to reduced yield and quality. Due to their high ecological adaptability, weeds are able to survive under diverse environmental conditions and are distributed across almost all climatic zones of the world. Among different weed categories, perennial weeds are particularly problematic in agriculture because of their persistence, vegetative reproduction, and ability to regenerate from underground structures such as rhizomes, making their management difficult.

Washim District is located in the eastern part of Maharashtra and covers an area of 5,095 km². The district is predominantly agricultural, with a major portion of the land under cultivation and a smaller area under forest cover. District comprises six talukas: Washim, Malegaon, Risod, Mangrulpir, Karanja, and Manora. The terrain is largely plain, with parts of the Ajanta Hills extending through the northern and central regions. The natural vegetation of the region is mainly dry deciduous forest.

The present study was undertaken to systematically document the weed flora of irrigated and unirrigated agricultural fields of Washim District, Maharashtra.

 

Material and Method

Weed specimens were collected from various localities within the study area, and field observations were recorded at the time of collection. These included habit, habitat, flower colour, fragrance, presence of latex, underground parts, plant height, local names, uses, and frequency of occurrence. Each specimen was assigned a unique field number.

Collected plants were processed using standard herbarium techniques, including drying and pressing. Identification was carried out with the help of standard taxonomic literature such as The Flora of the Presidency of Bombay (Cooke, 1903, 1908), Flora of Maharashtra State (Sharma et al., 1996; Naik, 1998), and other relevant floras (Singh et al., 2001; Singh and Karthikeyan, 2001).

Identified weed species were arranged family-wise according to the classification of Bentham and Hooker. Within each family, genera and species were listed alphabetically, and relevant information on local names, habitat, distribution, and collection locality was documented.

 

Observation

Table 1: A=Abundant, C=Common, F=Frequent, O=Occasional, R=Rare.

Sr. No.	Name of Species	Family	Local Name	Habitat	Distribution	Locality
1	Cocculus hirsutus (L.) Diels	Menispermaceae	Vasanvel	Unirrigated field	C	M.pir
2	Argemone mexicana L.	Papaveraceae	Pivla Dhotra	Unirrigated field	O	Wanoja
3	Rorippa indica (L.) Hiern	Brassicaceae	–	Irrigated field –Wheat, chickpea	C	Ladegaon
4	Brassica juncia (L.) Czern.	Brassicaceae	–	Irrigated field- Wheat	O	Rithad
5	Brassica campestris Linn. Var. Sarson	Brassicaceae	–	Irrigated field-Wheat	O	Wanoja
6	Cleome viscosa L.	Cleomaceae	Pivltilwan	Unirrigated fields	C	Hiwara Bk.
7	Portulaca quadrifida L.	Portulacaceae	Chival	Irrigated fields-Soybean, Tur.	O	Kheda abai
8	Portulaca oleracea L.	Portulacaceae	–	Irrigated fields-Chickpea	C	Vilegaon
9	Abelmoschus moschatus Medik.	Malvaceae	Kasturi bhendi	Bunds of fields	O	Sawarkhed
10	Abelmoschus ficulneus (L.) Wight. & Arn.	Malvaceae	–	Bunds of fields	C	Washim
11	Abutilon indicum (L.) Sweet.	Malvaceae	Petari	Bunds of fields	C	Khapardari
12	Abutilon pannosum (G. Forst.) Schldtl.	Malvaceae	–	Irrigated fields-Cotton	C	Washim
13	Hibiscus lobatus (Murr.) Kuntze	Malvaceae	–	Bunds of fields	O	Pimpalgaon
14	Hibiscus cannabinus L.	Malvaceae	Ambadi	Irrigated fields-Soybean, Cotton.	O	Rithad
15	Hibiscus panduriformis Burm.f.	Malvaceae		Irrigated fields-Soybean, Cotton.	O	Washim
16	Malachra capitata (L.) L.	Malvaceae	Ran-ambadi	Irrigated fields-Soybean, Tur, Cotton.	R	Sawarkhed
17	Malvastrum coromandelianum (L.) Garcke	Malvaceae	–	Irrigated fields-Soybean, Tur, Cotton.	C	Ladegaon
18	Sida acuta Burm.f.	Malvaceae	–	Irrigated fields-Soyabean	C	Manora
19	Sida cordata (Burm.f.) Borss. Waalk.	Malvaceae	–	Irrigated fields-Soybean, Tur, Cotton.	C	Umari Bk.
20	Sida spinosa L.	Malvaceae	–	Irrigated fields-Soybean, Tur, Cotton.	C	Umari Bk.
21	Corchorus olitorius L.	Tiliaceae	–	Unirrigated field	R	Amana
22	Corchorus fascicularis Lam.	Tiliaceae	Chichura	Irrigated fields-Soybean.	R	Rithad
23	Corchorus trilocularis L.	Tiliaceae	–	Irrigated fields-Soybean.	C	Dastapur
24	Triumfetta pentandra A. Rich.	Tiliaceae	–	Bunds of fields	C	Amana
25	Triumfetta rotundifolia Lam.	Tiliaceae	–	Bunds of fields	O	Washim
26	Tribulus terrestris L.	Zygophyllaceae	Gokharu	Unirrigated fields	C	Manora
27	Biophytum sensitivum (L.) DC.	Oxalidaceae	Lajalu	Unirrigated fields	C	Sawargaon
28	Oxalis corniculata L.	Oxalidaceae	–	Irrigated fields- Soybean, Cotton.	C	Ladegaon
29	Impatiens balsamina L.	Balsaminaceae	Tiwadi	Irrigated fields- Soybean, Cotton	C	Washim
30	Cissus vitiginea L.	Vitaceae	–	Bunds of fields	C	Pimpalgaon
31	Cardiospermum halicacabum L.	Sapindaceae		Irrigated Field-Soybean	C	Karanja
32	Alysicarpus bupleurifolius (L.) DC.	Fabaceae	–	Irrigated field-Soybean, cotton, Tur.	F	Amana
33	Alysicarpus longifolius (Spreng.) Wight & Arn.	Fabaceae	Shevara	Irrigated field-Soybean, cotton, Tur.	O	Sakra
34	Alysicarpus monilifer (L.) DC.	Fabaceae	–	Unirrigated fields	O	Manora
35	Alysicarpus ovalifolius (Schum.) Leonard	Fabaceae	–	Unirrigated fields	O	Amana
36	Alysicarpus procumbens (Roxb.) Schindl.	Fabaceae	–	Unirrigated fields	C	Sakra
37	Alysicarpus vaginalis (L.) DC.	Fabaceae	–	Unirrigated fields	C	Hiwara bk.
38	Cajanus platycarpus (Bth.)	Fabaceae	–	Unirrigated fields	C	Matoda
39	Clitoria ternatea L.	Fabaceae	Gokarna	Unirrigated fields	C	Matoda
40	Crotalaria retusa L.	Fabaceae	–	Unirrigated fields	C	Jalalpur
41	Crotalaria mysorensis  Roth	Fabaceae	–	Unirrigated fields	C	Risod
42	Crotalaria orixensis Willd.	Fabaceae	–	Unirrigated fields	C	Rithad
43	Cullen corylifolia (L.) Medik.	Fabaceae	Bawachi	Unirrigated fields	O	Umari Bk.
44	Desmodium dichotomum (Willd.) DC.	Fabaceae	Chikta	Bunds of  fields	C	Sakra
45	Gonigyna hirta (Willd.) Ali	Fabaceae	—	Irrigated field-Soybean, Tur.	C	Wai pr. Karanja
46	Indigofera cordifolia Roth	Fabaceae	Godhadi	Irrigated field-Soybean.	C	Kolambi
47	Indigofera glandulosa Wendl.	Fabaceae	Barbada	Unirrigated fields	C	Wardari Kh.
48	Indigofera linifolia (L.f.) Retz.	Fabaceae	—	Bunds of fields	C	Washim
49	Indigofera linnaei Ali	Fabaceae	—	Bunds of fields	C	Dhamni manora
50	Melilotus alba Ledeb.	Fabaceae	—	Irrigated fields- Wheat, Chickpea	O	Poha
51	Melilotus indica (L.) All.	Fabaceae	Ran methi	Irrigated fields- Wheat, Chickpea	O	Poha
52	Rhynchosia minima (L.) DC.	Fabaceae	Turel	Irrigated field-Soybean, Tur.	C	Dhamni manors
53	Rhynchosia minima (L.) DC. Var. retroflexa	Fabaceae	–	Unirrigated Field	O	Ladegaon
54	Tephrosia purpurea (L) Pers.	Fabaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	C	Lahi
55	Tephrosia strigosa (Dalz.) Santapau & Maheshw.	Fabaceae	—	Bunds of fields	O	Malegaon
56	Tephrosia Villosa (L) Pers.	Fabaceae		Unirrigated fields	O	Manora
57	Vigna trilobata L.	Fabaceae	_	Unirrigated fields	O	Dastapur
58	Zornia gibbosa Span.	Fabaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	O
59	Cassia mimosoides L.	Caesalpiniaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	O	Wardari kh.
60	Cassia pumila Lam.	Caesalpiniaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	C	Wardari kh.
61	Senna tora (L.) Roxb.	Caesalpiniaceae	—	Bunds of fields	O	Wardari kh.
62	Senna uniflora L.	Caesalpiniaceae		Bunds of fields	O	Falegaon
63	Ammannia baccifera L.	Lythraceae	—	Bunds of fields	C	Asola
64	Rotala serpyllifolia (Roth) Bremek.	Lythraceae	—	Bunds of fields	R	Washim
65	Ludwigia perennis L.	Onagraceae	Panlala wng	Bunds of fields	C	Khapardari
66	Cucumis melo L.	Cucurbitaceae	Shirni	Unirrigated fields	C	Hiwara Bk.
67	Diplocyclos palmatus (L.) C. Jeffrey	Cucurbitaceae	Shivlingi	Bunds of fields	C	Matoda
68	Momordica cymbalaria Hook.f.	Cucurbitaceae	Kadvanchi	Unirrigated fields	C	Khapardari
69	Mukua maderaspatana (L.) M. Roem.	Cucurbitaceae	—	Bunds of fields	O	Karanja
70	Trianthema portulacastrum L.	Aizoaceae	__	Unirrigated fields	O	Asola
71	Neanotis montholonii (Hook.f.) Lewis	Rubiaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	R	m.pir
72	Spermacoce articularis L.f.	Rubiaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	C	Wardari kh.
73	Spermacoce pusilla Wall.	Rubiaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	C	Risod
74	Hedyotis aspera B. Heyne ex Roth	Rubiaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	O	Amana
75	Hedyotis corymbosa L. (Lam)	Rubiaceae	__	Unirrigated fields	O	Supkhel
76	Acanthospermum hispidum DC.	Rubiaceae	—	Bunds of fields	C	Khapardari
77	Ageratum conyzoides (L.) L.	Asteraceae	—	Unirrigated fields	A	Shivani D.
78	Bidens biternata (Lour.) Merr. And sherff.	Asteraceae	—	Unirrigated fields	O	Pimpalgaon
79	Blainvillea acmella (L.) Philipson	Asteraceae	—	Unirrigated fields	C	Pimpalgaon
80	Blumea lacera (Burm.f.) DC.	Asteraceae	—	Bunds of fields	C	Manora
81	Blumea solidaginoides (Poir.) DC.	Asteraceae	—	Bunds of fields	C	Karanja
82	Blumea membranacea var. gracilis Hook.f.	Asteraceae	—	Bunds of fields	F	Karanja
83	Caesulia axillaris Roxb.	Asteraceae	—	Unirrigated fields	C	Washim
84	Echinops echinatus Roxb.	Asteraceae	—	Bunds of fields	O	Rithad
85	Eclipta alba (L.) Hassk.	Asteraceae	Maka	Irrigated fields-Soybean. Tur.	O	Pimpalgaon
86	Emilia sonchifolia (L.) DC. ex DC.	Asteraceae	—	Unirrigated fields	C	Karanja
87	Goniocaulon indicum (Klein ex Willd.) Benth ex Clarke	Asteraceae	Karad kosla	Irrigated fields-Soybean	C	Sakra
88	Grangea maderaspatana (L.) Poir.	Asteraceae	—	Unirrigated fields	F	Risod
89	Lagascea mollis Cav.	Asteraceae	—	Bunds of fields	C	Dhanora
90	Launea procumbens (Roxb.) Ramayya & Rajagopal	Asteraceae	Pathri	Unirrigated fields	C	Karanja
91	Pentanema indicum (L.) Ling	Asteraceae	Sonkadi	Unirrigated fields	C	Washim
92	Parthenium hysterophorus L.	Asteraceae	Gajar gawat	Bunds of fields	A	Manoli
93	Pulicaria angustifolia DC.	Asteraceae	—	Bunds of fields	O	Washim
94	Sonchus bracyotus DC.	Asteraceae	—	Irrigated fields-Wheat, Chickpea.	R	Ladegaon
95	Sonchus oleraceus L.	Asteraceae	—	Irrigated fields-Wheat, Chickpea.	O	Karanja
96	Spilanthes paniculata Wall. Ex DC. Prodr.	Asteraceae	Pimpal Kawale	Unirrigated fields	C	Asola
97	Tridax procumbens (L.) L.	Asteraceae	Kambar modi	Unirrigated fields	A	Karli
98	Vernonia cinerea (L.) Less.	Asteraceae	—	Bunds of fields	C	Sakra
99	Xanthium strumarium L.	Asteraceae	Zingurda	Unirrigated fields	O	Supkhel
100	Zinnia peruviana  L.	Asteraceae	Ran Zendu	Unirrigated fields	O	Matoda
101	Anagallis arvensis var. caerulea (L.) Gouan	Primulaceae	—	Irrigated fields-Wheat, Chickpea.	C	Nainy
102	Catharanthus pusillus (Murr.) G. Don	Apocynaceae	Jangli sadafuli	Unirrigated fields	O	Amana
103	Pergularia daemia (Forssk.) Chiov.	Apocynaceae	Utran	Bunds of fields	O	Rithad
104	Enicostema axillare (Poir. ex Lam.) A. Raynal	Gentianaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	C	Amana
105	Exacum  pedunculatum L.	Gentianaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	F	Sakra
106	Heliotropium ovalifolium Forssk.	Boraginaceae	—	Bunds of fields	C	Risod
107	Trichodesma indicum (L.) Lehm.	Boraginaceae	Kachmada	Unirrigated fields	C	Sakhardoh
108	Trichodesma zeylanicum (Burm.f.) R.Br.	Boraginaceae	—	Bunds of fields	A	Sakra
109	Convolvulus arvensis L.	Convolvulaceae	—	Bunds of fields	C	Ladegaon
110	Evolvulus alsinoides (L.) L.	Convolvulaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	C	Khapardari
111	Ipomoea alba L.	Convolvulaceae	—	Bunds of fields	O	Malegaon
112	Ipomoea cairica (L.) Sweet	Convolvulaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	O	Koli
113	Ipomoea sinensis (Desr.) Choisy	Convolvulaceae	—	Bunds of fields	F	Washim
114	Ipomoea eriocarpa R.Br.	Convolvulaceae	—	Irrigated fields	C	Falegaon
115	Ipomoea hederifolia L.	Convolvulaceae	Bopali	Unirrigated fields	O	Girda
116	Ipomoea pestigris (L.)	Convolvulaceae	—	Bunds of fields	C	Washim
117	Ipomoea maxima (L.f.) G.Don	Convolvulaceae		Unirrigated fields	C	Koli
118	Merremia gangetica (L.) Cufod.	Convolvulaceae	Kaliaphumari	Unirrigated fields	C	Washim
119	Cuscuta chinensis Lam.	Convolvulaceae	Adharvel	Unirrigated fields	C	Washim
120	Physalis angulata L.	Solanaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	C	Kolar
121	Physalis minima L.	Solanaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	F	Falegaon
122	Solanum nigrum L.	Solanaceae	Kamumi	Bunds of fields	C	Khapardari
123	Datura ferox L.	Solanaceae		Bunds of fields	O	Ladegaon
124	Datura innoxia Mill.	Solanaceae		Bunds of fields	A	Ladegaon
125	Kickxia ramosissima (Wall.) Janch.	Scrophulariaceae	—	Bunds of fields	C	Washim
126	Stemodia viscosa Roxb.	Scrophulariaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	F	Washim
127	Striga angustifolia (D.Don) C.J.Saldanha	Scrophulariaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	C	Risod
128	Verbascum chinense (L.) Santapau	Scrophulariaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	O	Risod
129	Blepharis repens (Vahl) Roth	Scrophulariaceae	Hadsan	Unirrigated fields	O	Nagzari
130	Justicia diffusa Willd.	Acanthaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	C	Risod
131	Justicia procumbens L.	Acanthaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	C	Asola
132	Lepidagathis cristata Willd.	Acanthaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	C	Umari Bk.
133	Dicliptera paniculata (Forssk.) I.Darbysh.	Acanthaceae	—	Bunds of fields	O	Morgavhan
134	Rostellularia japonica (Thunb.) Ellis (Syn. Justicia japonica)	Acanthaceae	—	Bunds of fields	C	Risod
135	Rungia elegans Dalz. & Gibs.	Acanthaceae	—	Bunds of fields	C	Sakra
136	Rungia pectinata (L.) Nees	Acanthaceae	—	Bunds of fields	C	Sakhardoh
137	Rungia repens (L.) Nees	Acanthaceae	—	Bunds of fields	R	Rithad
138	Anisomeles indica	Lamiaceae	-----	Bunds of fields	O	Lahi
139	Leonotis nepetifolia (L.) R.Br.	Lamiaceae	—	Bunds of fields	C	Sawad
140	Leucas urticifolia (Vahl.) sm.	Lamiaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	C	Risod
141	Leucas cephalotes (Roxb.) Spreng.	Lamiaceae	—	Irrigated field- Soybean, Tur.	O	Sakhardoh
142	Leucas martinicensis (Jacq.)R.Br.Prodr.	Lamiaceae	—	Unirrigated field	O	Risod
143	Ocimum americanum L.	Lamiaceae	—	Unirrigated field	O	Sakhardoh
144	Salvia plebeia R.Br.	Lamiaceae	—	Unirrigated places	R	Washim
145	Boerhaavia erecta L.	Nyctaginaceae	Punarnava	Unirrigated places	O	Kamzara
146	Boerhavia repens Var. diffusa (L.) Hook.	Nyctaginaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	C	Khirda
147	Achyranthes aspera L.	Amaranthaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	C	Washim
148	Aerva lanata (L.) Juss.	Amaranthaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	C	Karanja
149	Alternanthera  sessilis (L.) R.Br. ex DC.	Amaranthaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	A	Hiwara Bk.
150	Amaranthus roxburghianus Kunth.	Amaranthaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	F	M.pir
151	Amaranthus spinosus L.	Amaranthaceae	—	Bunds of fields	C	Khapardari
152	Amaranthus viridis L.	Amaranthaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	C	Hiwara Bk.
153	Celosia argentea L.	Amaranthaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	O	Wardari kh.
154	Digera muricata (L.) Mart.	Amaranthaceae	—	Bunds of fields	C	m.pir
155	Gomphrena serrata L.	Amaranthaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	O	Karanja
156	Chenopodium album L.	Chenopodiaceae		Irrigated fields- Wheat, Chickpea.	C	Wanoja
157	Acalypha ciliata Forssk.	Euphorbiaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	C	Amana
158	Acalypha indica L.	Euphorbiaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	O	Manora
159	Acalypha malabarica Mull. Arg.	Euphorbiaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	O	Hiwara bk.
160	Chrozophora rottleri (Geis.) Juss. ex Spreng.	Euphorbiaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	C	Nainy
161	Euphorbia geniculata Ort.	Euphorbiaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	C	Manora
162	Euphorbia heyneana Spreng.	Euphorbiaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	A	Nainy
163	Euphorbia hirta L.	Euphorbiaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	O	Karanja
164	Euphorbia parviflora L.	Euphorbiaceae	—	Irrigated fields-Wheat, Chickpea.	C	Karanja
165	Euphorbia dracunculoides L.	Euphorbiaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	C	Mangrulpir
166	Phyllanthus amarus Schum. & Thonn.	Phyllanthaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	C	Karanja
167	Phyllanthus maderaspatensis L.	Phyllanthaceae	—	Irrigated fields-Soybean.	F	Supkhel
168	Commelina axillaris L.	Commelinaceae	—	Irrigated fields-Soybean.	C	Wardari kh.
169	Commelina benghalensis L.	Commelinaceae	—	Irrigated fields-Soybean.	O	Amana
170	Commelina attenuate Koen. ex vahl, Enum.	Commelinaceae	—	Bunds of fields	C	Wai pr.
171	Tonningia axillaris (L.) Raf.	Commelinaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	O	Wardari kh.
172	Cyperus rotundus L.	Cyperaceae	—	Bunds of fields	O	Amana
173	Apluda mutica L.	Poaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	C	Wardari Kkh.
174	Aristida redacta Stapf	Poaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	C	Supkhel
175	Arthraxon hispidus (Thunb.) Makino	Poaceae	—	Bunds of fields	C	Wardari kh.
176	Chloris barbata Sw.	Poaceae	—	Cultivated fields	C	Amana
177	Coix gigantia	Poaceae	—	Bunds of fields	R	Falegaon
178	Chrysopogon fulvus (Spreng.) Chiov.	Poaceae	—	Bunds of fields	C	Girda
179	Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.	Poaceae	—	Irrigated fields	C	Manora
180	Dactyloctenium aegyptium (L.) Willd.	Poaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	C	Karanja
181	Dichanthium annulatum (Forssk.) Stapf	Poaceae	—	Irrigated fields	C	Sakhardoh
182	Dichanthium caricosum (L.) A.Camus	Poaceae	—	Irrigated fields	C	Khapardari
183	Dichanthium foveolatum (Delile) Roberty	Poaceae	—	Irrigated fields	C	Washim
184	Dichanthium pertusum (L.) Clayton	Poaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	C	Karanja
185	Digitaria ciliaris (Retz.) Koeler	Poaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	A	Manora
186	Digitaria stricta Roth	Poaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	C	Dhamni Manora
187	Dinebra retroflexa (Vahl) Panz.	Poaceae	—	Irrigated fields	C	Sakhra
188	Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn.	Poaceae	—	Bunds of fields	C	Washim
189	Eragrostis aspera (Jacq.) Nees	Poaceae	—	Irrigated fields	C	Manora
190	Eragrostis ciliaris (L.) R.Br.	Poaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	C	Karanja
191	Eragrostis japonica (Thunb.) Trin.	Poaceae	—	Cultivated fields	C	Sakra
192	Eragrostis pilosa (L.) P. Beauv.	Poaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	R	Kheda abai
193	Eragrostis viscosa (Retz.) Trin.	Poaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	C	Vilegaon
194	Heteropogon contortus (L.) P. Beauv. ex Roem. & Schult.	Poaceae	—	Bunds of fields	C	Sawarkhed
195	Heteropogon triticeus (R.Br.) Stapf ex Craib	Poaceae	—	Bunds of fields	C	Washim
196	Ischaemum pilosum (Kl. ex Willd.) Wight	Poaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	C	Khapardari
197	Melanocenchris jacquemontii Jaub. & Spach	Poaceae	—	Irrigated fields	R	Washim
198	Mnesithea granularis (L.) Koning & Sosef	Poaceae	—	Unirrigated fields	O	Pimpalgaon
199	Moorochloa eruciformis (Sm.) Veldkamp	Poaceae	—	Irrigated fields	C	Karanja
200	Ophiuros exaltatus (L.) Kuntz.	Poaceae	—	Bunds of fields	A	Washim
201	Panicum psilopodium Trin.	Poaceae	—	Irrigated field	R	Washim
202	Rottboellia cochinchinensis (Lour.) Clayton	Poaceae	Itch grass	Bunds of fields	C	Sakra
203	Setaria intermedia Roem. & Schult.	Poaceae	Bristle grass	Bunds of fields	C	Pimpalgaon
204	Setaria pumila (Poir.) Roem. & Schult.	Poaceae	Yellow foxtail	Irrigated field	O	Amana
205	Setaria verticillata (L.) P. Beauv.	Poaceae	Hooked bristle grass	Bunds of fields	O	Pimpalgaon
206	Sporobolus coromandelianus (Retz.) Kunth	Poaceae	—	Irrigated fields	C	Dhamni Manora
207	Sporobolus indicus (L.) R.Br.	Poaceae	Smut grass	Irrigated field	R	Karanja
208	Themeda quadrivalvis (L.) Kuntz.	Poaceae	Grader grass	Bunds of fields	C	Wardhari
209	Urochloa panicoides P. Beauv.	Poaceae	Garden urochloa	Irrigated field	F	M.pir
210	Urochloa ramosa (L.) Nguyen	Poaceae	Dwarf urochloa	Irrigated field	O	Poha

 

Table 2. Photoplate of Weeds

Malachra capitata (L.) L.	Corchorus fascicularis Lam.
Alysicarpus longifolius (Spreng.) Wight & Arn.	Alysicarpus ovalifolius (Schum.) Leonard
Desmodium dichotomum (Willd.) DC.	Indigofera glandulosa Wendl.
Melilotus indica (L.) All.	Ludwigia perennis L.
Emilia sonchifolia (L.) DC. ex DC.	Pentanema indicum (L.) Ling
Sonchus bracyotus DC.	Spilanthes paniculata Wall. Ex DC. Prodr.
Catharanthus pusillus (Murr.) G. Don	Convolvulus arvensis L.

 

 

Result and Discussion

            The survey documented a total of 210 weed species representing 140 genera and 37 families. Ipomoea emerged as the most dominant genus, while Poaceae was the largest family, comprising 38 species. Distinct differences in weed composition were observed between unirrigated and irrigated agricultural fields. Unirrigated fields were predominantly infested with Parthenium hysterophorus, Achyranthes aspera, Acalypha sp., Alternanthera sessillis , Xanthium strumarium, Boerhavia erecta, Euphorbia geniculate, Tridax Procumbens, and Phyllanthus spp. In contrast, irrigated fields showed dominance of Anagallis arvensis, Dinebra retroflexa, Melilotus alba, Convolvulus arvensis, Digera muricata, Eragrostis japonica, Moorochloa eruciformis, Launea procumbens, and Sonchus spp. The observed variation in weed assemblages reflects the influence of irrigation practices on weed distribution. Overall, the results reveal substantial weed diversity in the agricultural landscapes of Washim District, and identification of dominant species under different field conditions provides valuable information for planning effective weed management strategies.

References

Almeida M.R. 1996. Flora of Maharashtra. St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai Vol. 1 (Ranunculaceae-Sabiaceae).

Almeida M.R. 1996. Flora of Maharashtra. St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai Vol. 2 (Fabaceae-Caprifoliaceae).

Deore A.N. And Bhogaonkar P.Y. 2010. Flora of Washim District. Ph.D. Thesis, Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University, Amravati.

Diwakar P.G. And B.D. Sharma 1999. Flora of Buldhana District, Maharashtra State. Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta.

Hooker J.D. 1872-1897. Flora of British India Vol. I-III, London.

Kamble S.Y. And S.G. Pradhan 1998. Flora of Akola District, Maharashtra. Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta.

Karthikeyan S. And Anand Kumar 1993. Flora of Yavatmal District. Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta.

Naik V.N. 1998. Flora of Marathwada 1 and 2. Amrut Prakashan, Aurangabad.

Patunkar B.W. 1980. Grasses of Marathwada. Scientific Publisher, Jodhpur.

Potdar G.G., C.B. Salunkhe and S.R. Yadav 2012. Grasses of Maharashtra, Shivaji University, Kolhapur.

Singh N.P., Lakshminarasimhan, S. Karthikeyan and P.V. Prassanna 2001. Flora of Maharashtra State. Dicotyledones. Vol. II. Botanical Survey of India. Calcutta.

B. J. Wilson, Kathryn J. Wright 1990  Predicting The Growth And Competitive Effects Of Annual Weeds In Wheat International Journal Of Weed Biology Ecology And Vegetation Management.

Yadav S.R. And .M.M. Sardesai 2002. Flora of Kolhapur District Shivaji University, Kolhapur.

Yadav S.R. 2010. Know Your Grass Genera Through Hand Lens. Shivaji University, Kolhapur.

 

Share This:

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Linkedin Whatsapp Whatsapp