EFFECTS OF WEED CONTROL METHODS ON WEEDS AND PRODUCTIVITY OF RANGE GRASSES IN SEMI-ARID KENYA

Bosco Kidake Kisambo, Bryan Peter Ogillo, David Musyimi

Abstract


Background: Weeds are a common occurrence and challenge in different crops eventually influencing crop development and yields. Weed control and management are key in enhancing the productivity of cultivated pastures. In semi-arid Kenyan drylands, the main methods employed for weed management are manual cultural practices and recently, the application of commercial herbicides. Objective: To evaluate the effects of two weed control methods on weed characteristics and productivity of four rangeland grasses commonly used in reseeding and pasture improvement in a semi-arid environment. Methodology: In a randomized complete block design in a field experiment, we determined the effects of two weed control methods (manual and herbicide use) in four rangeland cultivated grasses. These are Buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris), Horsetail grass (Chloris roxburghiana), Masaai love grass (Eragrostis superba) and Bush rye (Enteropogon macrostachyus). Weed characteristics (species, density, diversity and weed biomass,) were evaluated, as well as the effectiveness of the weed control methods in the grasses. Results: Broad-leaved weeds and annual grasses were prevalent in the established grasses. Generally, higher grass dry matter yields were obtained in Cenchrus ciliaris grasses (2.05 t h-1) while lowest yields were in Chloris roxburghiana (1.2 ton ha-1). Weed management interventions increased biomass production in the grasses by a mean of 19% in general. The mean yield increase varied with species and weed control method ranging from 8-39%. Weed control methods significantly reduced weed density, diversity and eventually weed biomass within the grass species. The efficacy of manual weed control and chemical application was in the range of 27-74%.  Implications: Weed control is, therefore, necessary if one is to realize higher productivity and returns in cultivated pasture and fodder systems in semi-arid environments. Conclusion: Both chemical and manual control methods of weed control are important and effective approaches to manage weeds in pasture systems in semi-arid environments.

Keywords


Dry matter; Livestock; Grazing; Herbicide; Pastures; Rangeland.

Full Text:

PDF

References


Adewale, O.O., 2017. Weed interference and control in cowpea production: a review. Journal of Agricultural Science, 9(12), pp. 11-20. https://doi.org/10.5539/jas.v9n12p11

Al-Dakheel, A.J., and Hussain M., 2016. Genotypic variation for salinity tolerance in Cenchrus ciliaris L. Frontiers in Plant Science; 7 Article 1090. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2016.01090

Arif, M., Shah, T., Ilyas, M., Ahmad, L.W., Mian, A.A., Jadoon M.A. and Adnan M., 2015. Effect of organic manures and their levels on weeds density and maize yield. Pakistani Journal of Weed Science Research, 21(4), pp. 517- 522.

Boonman, J.G., 1993. East Africa’s grasses and fodders: their ecology and husbandry. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.

Chauhan B.S., 2020. Grand challenges in weed management. Frontiers in Agronomy, 1:3. https://doi.org/10.3389/fagro.2019.00003

Corin, F.P., Kate, L.C. and Sean, T.M., 2017. Economic impacts of invasive alien species on African smallholder livelihoods, Global Food Security, 14, pp. 31-37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2017.01.011

Cowie, B.W., Byrne, M.J. and Witkowski, E.T.F., 2021. Feasible or foolish: Attempting restoration of a Parthenium hysterophorus invaded savanna using perennial grass seed. Journal of Environmental Management, 280, 111686.

Ekwealor, K.U., Echereme, C.B., Ofobeze, T.N. and Okereke, C.N., 2019. Economic importance of weeds: A review. Asian Plant Research Journal, 3(2), pp. 1–11. https://doi.org/10.9734/aprj/2019/v3i230063

Gao, X. and Schwilk D.W., 2018. Grass canopy architecture influences temperature exposure at soil surface. Fire, 1(35), pp.1-14. https://doi.org/10.3390/fire1030035

Ghanizadeh, H. and Harrington. K.C., 2019. Weed management in New Zealand pastures. Agronomy, 9(448), pp. 1–18. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy9080448

Grabowski, P. and Jayne, T., 2016. Analyzing trends in herbicide use in Sub-Saharan Africa. MSU International Development Working paper. https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/245909/?ln=en

Huho, J.M. and Omar, M.H., 2020. Prosopis juliflora in Asals of Kenya: A friend or a foe plant? International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, 10(3), pp. 9968 http://dx.doi.org/10.29322/IJSRP.10.03.2020.p9968

Humphries, T., Dowling, K., Turville, C., Sinclair, S. and Florentine, S., 2020. Ecology, distribution and control of the invasive weed Nassella trichotoma (Nees) Hack. ex Arechav.: A global review of current and future challenges. Weed Research, 60(6), pp. 392–405. https://doi.org/10.1111/wre.12449

IUSS Working Group WRB., 2015. International soil classification system for naming soils and creating legends for soil maps. In World Reference Base for Soil Resources 2014, update 2015 International soil classification system for naming soils and creating legends for soil maps. World Soil Resources Reports No. 106. FAO.

Khan, R., Khan, M.A., Sultan, S., Marwat, K.B., Khan, I., Hassan, G. and Shah, H.U., 2013. Nutritional quality of sixteen terrestrial weeds for the formulation of cost-effective animal feed. The Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, 23(1), pp. 75-79.

Kidake, B.K., Manyeki, J.K., Kubasu, D. and Mnene, W.N., 2016. Promotion of range pasture and fodder production among the pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in Kenyan rangelands: Experiences and lessons learnt. Livestock Research for Rural Development. Volume 28, Article #151. Retrieved July 26, 2022, from http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd28/8/kida28151.html

Lugusa, K.O., 2015. Fodder production as an adaptive strategy in the drylands: A case study of producer groups in Baringo County, Kenya. MSc Thesis. University of Nairobi.

Mani, S.V, Malla, L.M., Gautam, C.K. and Bhagavandas., 1973. Weed killing chemicals in potato cultivation. Indian Farming, 23(1), pp. 17–18.

Manyanza, N.M. and Ojija F., 2021. Invasion, impact and control techniques for invasive Ipomoea hildebrandtii on Maasai steppe rangelands. Journal of Basic Applied Science, 17, pp. 25-36.

Mao, R., Bajwa A.A. and Adkins, S., 2021. A superweed in the making: adaptations of Parthenium hysterophorus to a changing climate. A review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 41(4). pp 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-021-00699-8

Mganga, K.Z., Kaindi, E., Ndathi, A.J.N., Bosma, L, Kioko, T., Kadenyi, N., Musyoki, G.K., Wambua, S., van Steenbergen, F. and Musimba, N.K.R., 2021. Plant morphoecological traits, grass-weed interactions and water use efficiencies of grasses used for restoration of African rangelands. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 8, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2020.613835

Mganga, K.Z., Musimba, N.K.R., Nyariki, D.M. and Nyangito, M.M., 2013. The choice of grass species to combat desertification in semi-arid Kenyan rangelands is greatly influenced by their forage value for livestock. Grass and Forage Science, 70(1), pp. 161–167. https://doi.org/10.1111/gfs.12089

Mganga, K.Z., Nyariki, D.M., Musimba, N.K.R. and Mwang'ombe, A.W., 2019. Indigenous grasses for rehabilitating degraded African drylands. In R. Bamutaze, Y., Kyamanywa, S., Singh, B., Nabanoga, G., Lal (Ed.), Agriculture and Ecosystem Resilience in Sub Saharan Africa. Climate Change Management. Springer, Cham. pp. 53–68. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-12974-3_3

Muoni, T. and Mhlanga, B., 2014. Weed management in Zimbabwean smallholder conservation agriculture farming sector. Asian Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development, 4 (3), pp. 269-278. https://doi/10.22004/ag.econ.198407

Mwendia, S.W., Ohmstedt, U., Nyakundi, F., Notenbaert, A. and Peters, M., 2022. Does harvesting Urochloa and Megathyrsus forages at short intervals confer an advantage on cumulative dry matter yields and quality? Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 102 (2), pp. 750–756. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.11407

Ndathi, A.J.N., 2012. Climate variability and livestock feeding strategies in the agro-pastoral systems of Southeastern Kenya. PhD Thesis. University of Nairobi.

Njarui, D.M.G., Gichangi, E.M., Ghimire, S.R. and Muinga, R.W., 2016. Climate-smart Bracharia grasses for improving livestock production in East Africa – Kenya experience. Proceedings of the Workshop held in Naivasha, Kenya, 14-15 September 2016: 298 pp.

Omollo, E., 2017. Analysis of fodder production and marketing in the rangelands of Southern Kenya. MSc Thesis. University of Nairobi.

Peterson, M.A., Collavo, A., Ovejero, R., Shivrain, V. and Walsh M.J., 2018. The challenge of herbicide resistance around the world: a current summary. Pest Management Science, 74(10), pp. 2246–2259. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.4821

Rayburn, E.B. and Griggs, T.C., 2020. Light interception and the growth of pastures under ideal and stressful growing conditions on the Allegheny plateau. Plants, 9(6), pp.1-19. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9060734

Rodenburg, J., Johnson, J.M., Dieng, I., Senthilkumar, K., Vandamme, E., Akakpo, C., Allarangaye, M.D., Baggie, I., Bakare, S.O., Bam, R.K., Bassoro, I., Abera, B.B., Cisse, M., Dogbe, W., Gbakatchétché, H., Jaiteh, F., Kajiru, G.K., Kalisa, A., Kamissoko, N., Sékou, K., Kokou, A., Mapiemfu-Lamare, d., Lunze, F.M., Mghase, J., Maïga, I.M., Nanfumba, D., Niang, A., Rabeson, R., Segda, Z., Sillo, F.S., Tanaka, A. and Saito, K., 2019. Status quo of chemical weed control in rice in sub-Saharan Africa. Food Security, 11, 69–92. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-018-0878-0

Schaffner, U., Müller-Schärer, H. and Lüscher, A., 2022. Integrated weed management in grasslands. In: Kudsk, P, ed. Advances in Integrated Weed Management. Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing, pp. 339-360.

Sombroek, W.G., Braun, H.M.H. and van der Pouw, B.J.A., 1982. Exploratory soil map and agro-climatic zone map of Kenya, Kenya Soil Survey 1980. 56 pp.

Tabe-Ojong, M.P., Alvarez, M., Ihli, H.J., Becker, M. and Heckelei, T., 2022. Action on Invasive Species: Control strategies of Parthenium hysterophorus L. on smallholder farms in Kenya. Environmental Management, 69, pp. 861–870. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-021-01577-5

Tozer, K.N., Barker, G.M., Cameron, C.A., Wilson, D. and Loick N. 2016. Effects of including forage herbs in grass-legume mixtures on persistence of intensively managed pastures sampled across three age categories and five regions. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 59(3) pp. 250-268. https://doi.org/10.1080/00288233.2016.1188831

Travlos, I.S., Cheimona, N., Roussis, I. and Bilalis, D.J., 2018. Weed-species abundance and diversity indices in relation to tillage systems and fertilization. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 6, pp. 1–10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2018.00011

Uddin, K., Juraimi, S.A. and Mohd, R.I., 2012. Weed management in tropical Turfgrass areas: A review. Archives of Biological Sciences, 64(2), pp. 594-603. https://doi.org/10.2298/ABSA1202597U

Wright, B.R., Latz, P.K., Albrecht, D.E. and Fensham R.J., 2020. Buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) eradication in arid central Australia enhances native plant diversity and increases seed resources for granivores. Applied Vegetation Science, 24(1), pp.1-9. https://doi.org/10.1111/avsc.12533

Ziska, H.L., 2016. The role of climate change and increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide on weed management: Herbicide efficacy. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 231, pp. 304-309. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2016.07.014




URN: http://www.revista.ccba.uady.mx/urn:ISSN:1870-0462-tsaes.v26i1.44948

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.56369/tsaes.4494

Bookmark and Share


Copyright (c) 2022 Bosco Kidake Kisambo

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.