Agrestal and Ruderal Weeds of some Crops in Abha, Saudi Arabia

Moustafa, Mahmoud F. M.; M., Alwadi H.

doi:10.21608/jesj.2010.185300

Agrestal and Ruderal Weeds of some Crops in Abha, Saudi Arabia

Document Type : High quality original papers

Authors

Mahmoud F. M. Moustafa ¹^{, 2}
Alwadi H. M. ²

¹ Botany Department, Faculty of Science, South Valley University, Egypt.

² Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia.

10.21608/jesj.2010.185300

Abstract

In the present study agrestal and ruderal weeds flora associated within growing fields of; Cabbage, Fennel, Peppermint, Lettuce and Onion in Abha governorate, Saudi Arabia was reported. A total of 66 angiospermic species belonging to 28 families were found as ruderal weeds. Maximum numbers of species (17) were belonged to the family Poaceae followed by Asteraceae (9) and Solanaceae (5) Commicarpus grandiflorus and Rumex usambarensis were found to be the most frequently occurring and densely populated weeds with absolute frequency (AF) of 100% and absolute density (AD) of 5.69 and 8.14 respectively. The other frequently occurring and densely populated weeds were Argemone ochroleuca, Chenopodium murale, Convolvulus arvensis, Lycium shawii, Ochradenus baccatus, Solanum incanum and Sonchus oleraceus with (AF) ranging from 53–73% and (AD) from 0.83–6.10. Less frequently occurring weeds with (AF) between 26–48% include fourteen species. The least frequently occurring species with (AF) 24% or below and (AD) from 0.02–0.٦7 include forty three species. The results in the present study show dominance of the ruderal over the agrestal weeds which may be due to ploughing and cleaning of agricultural soil.

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