Abstract:
Periodical weed surveys were conducted during 2020-21 at Jashore, Jhenaidah,
Chuadanga, Meherpur, and Khustia of Bangladesh to observe the severity of
parthenium and to identify how many crops were affected by this weed. Parthenium
weed was identified using the visual method, and quadrates were used to determine
the number of parthenium weeds. The densest infestations of parthenium weed were
found along roadsides, in fallow land, grasslands, and in fields of various crops. Only
one species of parthenium which affected rice, maize, lentil, chickpea, field pea, jute,
cotton, mustard, sesame, groundnut, tomato, pointed gourd, brinjal, bean, okra,
onion, garlic, turmeric, chili, ginger, potato, banana, sugarcane, napiergrass, marigold,
etc. The highest (29.67 plants m
-2
) abundance of parthenium weed occurred at border
areas due to the proximity to routes connecting Bangladesh and India. Among 27
Upazilla studied sites, the relative density was highest at Sarsha, Jashore (33.5%)
followed by Damurhuda, Chuadanga (29.8%). The allelopathic activity of P.
hysterophorus was examined against the seed growth of twenty crop species including
major cereals, pulses, oilseeds, spices, fiber, and vegetables. 5% aqueous leaf extract
was used to investigate the allelopathic activity of P. hysterophorus to seeds and pregerminated
seeds (radicle protruded by at least 1 mm) of test species. The following
three parameters were used in allelopathic screening methodologies (a) germination
percentage (%), (b) radicle length (cm), and (c) plumule length (cm). Results of Petri
dishes experiment had shown a complete failure of germination (0%) due to the
treatment in sesame, jute, pumpkin, red amaranth, chili, radish, and tomato. Among
the cereals, wheat had the greatest reduction in radicle and plumule length (96% and
94%, respectively) compared to the respective control. Therefore, an integrated
parthenium management approach is urgently needed to control the spread of this
invasive weed.
Description:
A Thesis Submitted to
The Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture,
Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka,
in partial fulfilment of the requirements
for the degree of
MASTERS OF SCIENCE (MS)
IN
AGRONOMY
