Impact of natural weed infestation on the performance of selected sugarcane varieties in the Southern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria

Abstract

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the performance of some sugarcane varieties against natural weed infestation. The trials were laid out in a randomized complete block design with split-plot arrangement and three replications. The sugarcane varieties were the main plots while the sub-plots consisted of weeding regimes. Recommended cultural and agronomic practices were followed to raise the crops. Data were collected on weed density, weed biomass, sugarcane tiller count and cane yield. Our results revealed that Rottboellia cochinchinensis (Lour.) W.D.Clayton, Panicum maximum Jacq, Imperata cylindrica L., Panicum repens L., Cynodon dactylon L. and Cyperus rotundus L. were the major weed problems of sugarcane in Ilorin. The monthly hoe weeded treatment had significantly higher tiller count which translated to higher cane yield (22.61 to 72.54 t/ha) than other weed control treatments. The reduction in cane yield was between 80.51 and 97.55% depending on duration of weed infestation. Association of weed parameters with cane yield was negative and significant showed that a decrease in weed infestations will result in simultaneous increase in sugarcane yield. Therefore, in selecting sugarcane variety(s) for breeding programmes, emphasis should be placed on sugarcane growth parameters that negatively and significantly correlated with weed infestation.

Assessing the Likelihood of Gene Flow From Sugarcane (Saccharum Hybrids) to Wild Relatives in South Africa

“…× drummondii are considered as weeds of sugarcane in South Africa (Van Oudtshoorn, 1999 ; Milton, 2004 ; Fish et al, 2015 ). Studies from Nigeria reported I. cylindrica amongst problem weeds of sugarcane (Takim et al, 2014 ), and both S. arundinaceum and S . × drummondii are regarded as major weeds of sugarcane in Ethiopia (Firehun and Tamado, 2006 ).…”

“…In general, most problematic weeds of sugarcane are in the Andropogoneae (Cheavegatti-Gianotto et al, 2011 ; Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, 2013 ). Imperata cylindrica and members of Sorghum have been documented as aggressive weeds of agricultural fields including sugarcane plantations in many countries (Van Oudtshoorn, 1999 ; Firehun and Tamado, 2006 ; Bonnett et al, 2008 ; Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, 2013 ; Takim et al, 2014 ). Sorghum arundinaceum and S .…”

Influence of Sett Treatments on Biochemical, Weed, Physiological Parameters and Nutrient Uptake of Bajra Napier Hybrid Grass [CO (BN)5]

“…Significantly lower weed density (9.90 No./m 2 ) and weed dry weight (12.92 g/m 2 ) of were recorded with water (12 hours soaking fb 24 hours incubation) S1 (Fig 2). This was mainly due to improved early sprouting and establishment percentage that reduced the weed density and weed dry weight was also indicated by effective utilization of resources available for crop growth Takim et al (2014). Further, Volume xxx | Issue xxxx | 5 Singh et al (2012) supported this, who revealed seed treatment with water resulted in lower weed density and weed dry weight.…”

Impact of Plant Population and Weed Control Methods on the Growth, Yield and Economic Potential of Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) Cultivation

“…This result agreeds with the one by Takim and Amodu (2013), who have reported that Poaceae family dominated sugarcane ecology in Ilorin, Southern Guinea savanna of Nigeria. Takim et al (2014) have listed Rottboellia cochinchinensis, Panicum maximum, Imperata cylindrica. Pannicum repens, and Cynodon dactylon as the most dominant and problematic weed species in Ilorin while Singh et al (2011) in India have reported Dactyloctenium aegyptium …”