Characteristics of speargrass (Imperata cylindrica) dominated fields in West Africa: crops, soil properties, farmer perceptions and management strategies

Speargrass is a dominant, competitive and difficult weed to control in tropical Asia, Latin America, and some parts of West Africa. In West Africa, no information is available on the cropping systems and soils most affected by speargrass infestation; Farmers’ perceptions of speargrass and common man...

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Autores principales: Chikoye, David, Manyong, Victor M., Ekeleme, F.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Elsevier 2000
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/92646
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author Chikoye, David
Manyong, Victor M.
Ekeleme, F.
author_browse Chikoye, David
Ekeleme, F.
Manyong, Victor M.
author_facet Chikoye, David
Manyong, Victor M.
Ekeleme, F.
author_sort Chikoye, David
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Speargrass is a dominant, competitive and difficult weed to control in tropical Asia, Latin America, and some parts of West Africa. In West Africa, no information is available on the cropping systems and soils most affected by speargrass infestation; Farmers’ perceptions of speargrass and common management strategies employed by farmers are unknown. Surveys were conducted in 1996 and 1997 in the coastal/derived savanna (Benin and Nigeria) and southern Guinea savanna (Côte d'Ivoire) to characterize farming systems, soils, and farmers’ management strategies in fields dominated by speargrass. Twenty-one crops were found in speargrass dominated fields. Speargrass was ranked as the most serious weed in both agroecological zones. Besides speargrass, Commelina benghalensis L., Digitaria nuda Shumach, Cyperus rotundus L., Tridax procumbens L., Rottboellia cochinchinensis (Lour.) Clayton, Digitaria horizontalis Willd, Striga spp., and Euphorbia heterophylla were also considered as important weeds in major cropping systems. Speargrass was undesirable because it reduces crop yield and quality, limits farm size, causes injury to the skin, increases labour requirement and increases the presence of pathogens and insects of economic crops. Nevertheless, some farmers indicated that speargrass was an important source of cheap roofing material, animal fodder and medicines. Most farmers used labour intensive control strategies to combat speargrass due to, among other reasons, lack of capital. Speargrass occurred in soils with a wide range of chemical properties and particle size distribution.
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spelling CGSpace926462025-11-11T10:16:22Z Characteristics of speargrass (Imperata cylindrica) dominated fields in West Africa: crops, soil properties, farmer perceptions and management strategies Chikoye, David Manyong, Victor M. Ekeleme, F. weed survey small-scale-farms weed control speargrass farmers weeding maize yield Speargrass is a dominant, competitive and difficult weed to control in tropical Asia, Latin America, and some parts of West Africa. In West Africa, no information is available on the cropping systems and soils most affected by speargrass infestation; Farmers’ perceptions of speargrass and common management strategies employed by farmers are unknown. Surveys were conducted in 1996 and 1997 in the coastal/derived savanna (Benin and Nigeria) and southern Guinea savanna (Côte d'Ivoire) to characterize farming systems, soils, and farmers’ management strategies in fields dominated by speargrass. Twenty-one crops were found in speargrass dominated fields. Speargrass was ranked as the most serious weed in both agroecological zones. Besides speargrass, Commelina benghalensis L., Digitaria nuda Shumach, Cyperus rotundus L., Tridax procumbens L., Rottboellia cochinchinensis (Lour.) Clayton, Digitaria horizontalis Willd, Striga spp., and Euphorbia heterophylla were also considered as important weeds in major cropping systems. Speargrass was undesirable because it reduces crop yield and quality, limits farm size, causes injury to the skin, increases labour requirement and increases the presence of pathogens and insects of economic crops. Nevertheless, some farmers indicated that speargrass was an important source of cheap roofing material, animal fodder and medicines. Most farmers used labour intensive control strategies to combat speargrass due to, among other reasons, lack of capital. Speargrass occurred in soils with a wide range of chemical properties and particle size distribution. 2000-08 2018-05-17T09:02:57Z 2018-05-17T09:02:57Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/92646 en Open Access application/pdf Elsevier Chikoye, D., Manyong, V. & Ekeleme, F. (2000). Characteristics of speargrass (Imperata cylindrica) dominated fields in West Africa: crops, soil properties, farmer perceptions and management strategies. Crop Protection, 19(7), 481-487.
spellingShingle weed survey
small-scale-farms
weed control
speargrass
farmers
weeding
maize yield
Chikoye, David
Manyong, Victor M.
Ekeleme, F.
Characteristics of speargrass (Imperata cylindrica) dominated fields in West Africa: crops, soil properties, farmer perceptions and management strategies
title Characteristics of speargrass (Imperata cylindrica) dominated fields in West Africa: crops, soil properties, farmer perceptions and management strategies
title_full Characteristics of speargrass (Imperata cylindrica) dominated fields in West Africa: crops, soil properties, farmer perceptions and management strategies
title_fullStr Characteristics of speargrass (Imperata cylindrica) dominated fields in West Africa: crops, soil properties, farmer perceptions and management strategies
title_full_unstemmed Characteristics of speargrass (Imperata cylindrica) dominated fields in West Africa: crops, soil properties, farmer perceptions and management strategies
title_short Characteristics of speargrass (Imperata cylindrica) dominated fields in West Africa: crops, soil properties, farmer perceptions and management strategies
title_sort characteristics of speargrass imperata cylindrica dominated fields in west africa crops soil properties farmer perceptions and management strategies
topic weed survey
small-scale-farms
weed control
speargrass
farmers
weeding
maize yield
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/92646
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