Distributions of Invasive Weed Parthenium (Parthenium hysterophorus L.) in the University Campus Peshawar, Pakistan

Abstract

A survey was performed to measure the distribution of invasive parthenium (P. hysterophorus) weed in the university campus, Peshawar, the capital city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in 2016. The University Campus included: The University of Peshawar, Islamia College University, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Pakistan Forest Institute and the New Developmental Research Farm, The University of Agriculture Peshawar were the main studied areas. In the selected areas P. hysterophorus distribution was measured in the academic, residential and research farm areas. Moreover, the survey also investigated the impact of parthenium weed upon native weeds flora inside the University campus. A 1m2 quadrat was used to collect the data. During the survey, a total of 32 weeds species were recorded belonging to 18 different families and 32 genera, the life cycle of 23 weeds were annual while 9 weeds have perennial life cycle. The data were recorded on absolute density (%), relative density (%), absolute frequency (%), relative frequency (%) and importance values (%) of parthenium weed and others flora. The data showed that parthenium weed was most dominant species having 76.8 m-2 plants density in the NDF and (32.0 m-2) plants in Islamia University. However, the highest frequency (100%) of P. hysterophorus was observed for The University of Agriculture, while minimum (80%) occurred in Agronomy field. Moreover the relative frequency of P. hysterophorus was maximum (25%) seemed for Islamia College; whereas, its minimum (12.9%) at Agronomy field. Lastly, the Importance Value of Parthenium indicates the highest (45.98%) at Dairy farm followed by (40.33 %) at Horticulture field’s area. In conclusion, the Parthenium weed become more problematic and replaces all the native flora in the non-crop area specially Dicanthium annulatum a native grass specie on the on the ridges of the field being replaced by parthenium. Due to no proper management and high growth rate, nowadays it becomes as super weed in the KPK and especially in the Pakistan. So, the management of Parthenium weed requires the call attention from the Govt. policy maker and proper quarantine inspection to conserve the native flora and field crops to get maximum crop yield.