Factors affecting the distribution and associated species of Malva parviflora in the Nile Delta, Egypt

Abstract

Malva parviflora (little mallow) is a wild herb with agricultural importance in Egypt, where it is cultivated as a food crop. The main objective of the present work was to study the distribution and common associated species of the arable weed, M. parviflora, in the Nile Delta, Egypt. In addition, the diversity and behavior of the common species along the prevailing environmental conditions were assessed. Fifty stands, representing five common habitats (crop fields, orchards, canals, drains and roadsides), were selected. Eighty-five species and one variety (50 annuals and 36 perennials) were recorded. Therophytes dominated the other life forms and biregional taxa contributed the highest chorological elements. Malva parviflora is a therophytic plant that has a Mediterranean distribution intermingled with Irano-Turanian elements. Moreover, the highest coverage percentage of M. parviflora was recorded in the canal banks. Four vegetation groups that represented the distinct habitats were produced by the application of a two-way indicator species analysis and a detrended correspondence analysis as a classification and ordination technique, respectively. Vegetation group C, which inhabited the crop fields, was the most diverse. A canonical correspondence analysis indicated that calcium carbonate, organic carbon, carbonate, potassium and the potassium adsorption ratio and electrical conductivity are the most effective soil variables on the distribution of M. parviflora and its associated species in the different habitats. It was found that M. parviflora was affected greatly by calcium carbonate, sand and magnesium. In addition, it was significantly associated with soil bicarbonate. Such a study could help in managing this important agricultural weed.

Floristic and Vegetation Study on the Main Weed Communities Associated with Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Crop

“…The high species richness may be related to this environmental micro-heterogeneity that promotes diversity (Palmer and Maurer, 1997). The variations in species richness, diversity and evenness among the different community types may be attributed to differences in soil characteristics, substrate discontinuities and the allelopathic effects of one or more invasive species depending on their relative dominance among other associated species (Shehata and Galal, 2015). Moreover, the difference in field management practices may also be a factor that explains differences in weed species richness (Gomaa, 2012).…”

“…Moreover, weed communities are affected by many factors as farm management practices, crop type, season and soil characteristics. Many factors involved in the formation of the weed community make it difficult to evaluate the relative importance of each individual factor (Shehata and Galal, 2015).…”

Weed Flora of Citrus Orchards and Factors Affecting its Distribution in Western Mediterranean Region of Turkey

“…The variation in weed density and coverage areas can be explained by heterogeneity in soil properties and microclimatic conditions (Gaston et al, 2001;James et al, 2006). Spatial variation of soil properties is affected by inherent soil characteristics such as particle size distribution (sand, silt and clay content), ground water availability, topography and management practices (Alignier et al, 2012;Shehata et al, 2015). Large variation of sand, silt and clay contents of soils is an indication of parent material differences among soils of surveyed orchards.…”

Influence of selected soil physical and chemical variables on distribution of perennial plant species in different plant communities of Aawdhat Al Masodi, Saudi Arabia

“…Plant communities are important components in the arid ecosystems and being involved in future sustainable management and conservation programs (Kandi et al, 2011). This is due the fact that plant species also provide continuous food and raw materials for pharmaceutical products (Shehata & Galal, 2014). The ultimate objective in most recent floristic studies was to explain the patterns of plant diversity and distribution in relation to certain physical, chemical, geographical variables (Fried et al, 2008;Barakat et al, 2014;Shaltout et al, 2016).…”