Distribution Status and Impact of Parthenium hysterophorus L., on Teff, Maize and Haricot Bean Growth: The Case of Awash Melkasa area, East Shoa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract

Parthenium hysterophorus is an alien invasive weed of pastures, marginal lands and agricultural fields, particularly in developing world. Various problems were posed by the weed to human health, agriculture, livestock production and biodiversity. The study was conducted from September 2016 to July 2017, to evaluate the distribution status and impacts of Parthenium hysterophorus on teff, maize and haricot bean growth in Awash Melkasa area. Seven kebeles around the study area were selected to study the distribution status and impacts of Parthenium on crops mentioned above. To investigate the distribution of the weed, a total of 9 quadrats (each1m2) from each kebeles were selected by using stratified random sampling. The field study showed significant distribution of the weed (with Simpson index of diversity 0.49). The allelopatic effect of P. hysterophorus on teff (Eragrostis tef), maize (Zea mays) and haricot bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) were evaluated on Parthenium compost. The allelopatic study conducted on Parthenium compost showed that maize has better height, 150 cm, whereas the height of teff, 65.33 cm and the haricot bean, 80 cm were affected during the entire cropping season. Even, five of the haricot beans from the experimental group were died. The result of this study also revealed that the maximum tolerance index was observed in maize,(130) followed by teff (85.2) and the minimum was observed in haricot bean (66.6). The highest phytotoxic effect was observed on haricot bean (33.33%) and then on teff (14.79%) and the minimum was observed on maize (30.43%). To measure soil pH and moisture in both Partheium bounded and non-Partuenium bounded soil were randomly sampled, weighed in the field and taken to laboratory. The result of the study showed that, the amount of available soil moisture is slightly more in Parthenium bound soil than in non-Parthenium bound soil. The mean value of soil pH of Parthenium bound soil is also higher than non-Parthenium bound soil. So it could be concluded that, the infestation level of the weed is higher in the study area, which could have significant effect on biodiversity, major agronomic characteristics like shoot growth, and physical and chemical features of soil, such as soil moisture content and pH. So that, integrated efforts should be practiced to control the aggressive invasion and the danger of the weed at local, regional and national level till the complete seed bank is exhausted.