Mapping <i>Phalaris minor</i> under the Rice-Wheat Cropping System in different Agro-Ecological Regions of Nepal

Abstract

A survey was conducted in order to map the spread of Phalaris minor in wheat in nine districts
in the mid-hill, Terai and inner Terai areas of the rice-wheat cropping system in Nepal during
1998/99. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected from 540 farmers and P. minor
was recorded in all of the nine surveyed districts. Percent summed dominance ratio (SDR) and
average number per unit area (m²) of P. minor was compared to different districts of mid-hills,
inner Tarai, and Tarai belts along with other weeds in the wheat crop. P. minor ranked as the
first and second important weed of wheat that reduced the wheat yield from 10 to 50 percent. Its
populations varied from district to district. However, the infestation appeared to be in increasing
trend. Future strategies need to consider in increasing growers' abilities to identify P. minor at
early growth stages when it is particularly difficult to differentiate from wheat seedlings. It is
suggested that frequent monitoring of weeds in different tillage and weed management practices
should be initiated. Besides farmers' training in the future there needs to be emphasis placed on
increasing farmer's awareness on the serious negative impact of P. minor on wheat yield and
quality.

Key words: Agro-ecology; Phalaris minor; survey; weeds; wheat

DOI: 10.3126/narj.v7i0.1869

Nepal Agriculture Research Journal Vol.7 2006 pp.54-63