Title: Weeds as viable habitat for arthropod species in croplands of central Punjab

Abstract: Weeds are considered a limiting factor of crop production. Simultaneously, these non-crop plants are a portion of the agricultural ecosystem and play an essential role as viable habitat for many organisms, including bio-control agents. Utilizing the quadrate method, sugarcane, fodder, wheat and mustard croplands were sampled for one year to determine the weed flora and arthropods living among it. Twenty weed species and eight major arthropod orders were found to be present. The majority of the weed plants were broad-leaved, while some were grass-like. A review of literature on Central Punjab weeds uncovered depicted a considerable change in the weed flora over few decades. This could be related to the intensive and extensive farming in the area, which has this increased over the few decades along with the construction of an extensive irrigation canal system. These alterations may have caused drastic changes in the soil structure and climate of the region. Most of the phytophagous arthropod species used weed plants as food. In turn, these were fed upon by a few zoophagous arthropod species that also utilized the weeds for shelter and oviposition. Thus, weeds have a specific role within the agroecosystem by supporting local biodiversity. [Tahira Ruby, Shahnaz Akhtar Rana, Naureen Rana, Talat Perveen Inayat, Muhammad Javed Iqbal Siddiqui and Nadeem Abbas Khan (2011). Weeds as viable habitat for arthropod species in croplands of central Punjab. Pak. J. Agri. Sci. 48(2):145-152]

Keywords: Arthropods, weeds, phytophagous, herbivore

Original source



Article: WeedsNews2242 (permalink)
Categories: :WeedsNews:research alert, :WeedsNews:agricultural weed, :WeedsNews:biological control, :WeedsNews:beneficial weeds
Date: 14 September 2011; 9:18:44 pm Australian Eastern Standard Time

Author Name: Zheljana Peric
Author ID: zper12