WEED COMMUNITY ANALYSIS IN MAIZE CROP IN NATURAL CLIMATE OF KHAIRPUR DISTRICT, PAKISTAN

Weeds are the noxious plants that stunt growth and yield of many crops. This study recorded the community composition of weeds in maize crops grown at District Khairpur, Sindh Pakistan. The weeds were collected from the maize crops at three different localities using the quadrat method (60 quadrats/site). The species were identified and herbarium samples were preserved in Herbarium, Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur, Sindh Pakistan, for future reference. The species community composition, habit, and life span were determined. The study confirmed 35 weed species belonging to 14 plant families. The weed community was dominated by the plant families Poaceae (8 spp.), Amaranthaceae (7 spp.), and Aizoaceae (3 spp.). The most frequent species with relatively higher densities include Digera muricata (Amaranthaceae), Trianthema portulacastrum (Aizoaceae), and Corchorus olitorius (Malvaceae). The weed community was dominated with annual herbs. The community composition among the study sites was highly comparable. The study found a lack of weed management practices across the sites.