Distribution of Weed Species in Rice (Oryzasativa L.) and Maize (Zea mays L.) Fields at Bauchi, Northern Nigeria

Abstract

A study was carried out to determine the distribution of weed species in rice and maize fields in Bauchi and its environs from June to August 2000. Seventy sites in 7 different localities namely, Birshi Fulani, BirshiGandu, Lushi, Miri, Wunti-Dada, Inkil and Gubi were selected. Quadrats 0.25m x 0.25m were used in the collection of data in these fields. The monocotomous weeds Kyllingatetenuifolia, Commelinabenghalensis and Digitariahorizontalis were the dominant weed species in rice fields in descending order, significantly different, at P ≤ 0.05, from all the other weed species in rice fields. In maize fields, Acanthospermumhispidum a dicotyledonous plant was outstandingly dominant, significantly different, at P ≤ 0.05, from all other weed species in maize fields. A. hispidum was closely followed by Cassia obtusifolia, Chlorispilosaa and Oldenlandiacorymbosa which were not significantly different from each other at P ≤ 0.05.The three most dominant weeds in rice fields only occurred eleventh, sixth and nineth respectively in maize fields with C. benghalensis significantly different, at P ≤ 0.05, from K. tenuifolia and D. horizontalis. However, the overall dominant weed species recorded in all fields were C. benghalensis which was significantly different from all the other weeds at P ≤ 0.05.It was followed in dominance by Oldenlandiacorymbosa, Kyllingatenuifolia and Digitariahorizontal to which were not significantly different from each other (P ≤ 0.05), but significantly different formChlorispilosa, Cynodondactylon, Portulacaoleracea, Cassia obtusifolia and Dactyloctenummaegyptium (P ≤ 0.05).Inkil had the highest frequency of occurrence (%) of weed species in all fields though not significantly different from Birshi Fulani and Lushi. Most of the dominant weed species were monocotyledonous plants.