Vol. 12, Special Issue 7 (2023)

Author(s):
Priyadharshini K, Sanjay P, Abinaya A, Jayabharathi K, Kumaravel S and Mathialagan M

Abstract:
Weeds are nothing but plants. We call them weeds because they grow unnecessarily in the fields instead of crops. Such weeds bring many evils and benefits to this world in various ways. So identification of weeds is very important to destroy harmful weeds and use beneficial weeds. This study was taken with objectives that included preparing a checklist of weeds, knowing their biology, and identifying medicinally important weeds at Sethu Bhaskara Agricultural College and Research Foundation, Karaikudi. A total of 126 species belonging to 36 families were recorded in the survey carried out from April 2023 to July 2023. The majority of weeds in the Poaceae family consist of a maximum of 14 species. Another dominant family, Malvaceae, consists of 10 weed species, followed by Asteraceae, Amaranthaceae, and Fabaceae, which consist of 9 weed species; Euphorbiaceae, which consists of 8 weed species; Cyperaceae, which consists of 7 weed species; Rubiaceae, which consists of 6 weed species; Solanaceae, which consists of 5 weed species; Convolvulaceae; and Lamiaceae, which consist of 4 weed species; followed by Acanthaceae, Nyctaginaceae, Cleomaceae, Commelinaceae, Boraginaceae, and Phyllanthaceae, which consist of 2 weed species. Among 36 families, 18 are represented by 1 weed species. Among the 126 weed species, 50% belong to Annual weeds, 80.15% belong to broad-leaved weeds, 60.31% are of exotic origin, 57.14% belong to non-cropped land weeds, 38.09% belong to Dryland weeds, and 11% are used by local communities as highly medicinal weeds. Therefore, this research lays the foundation for the identification of weeds, the utilisation of beneficial weeds, and the control of harmful weeds.