Major Weeds of Vegetable and Their Management

Practices Crops in Nagadesh, Bhaktapur

(SARD PRACTICAL REPORT)

Abstract
Weeds compete with crops to reduce yields and affect crop quality. In vegetables, weeds can
cause severe yield reductions and can delay or interfere with harvesting of vegetables if left
uncontrolled. To identify the major weed of the vegetables and their management practices
adopted by local farmers, a study was conducted from july 10 to 25at Madhyapur Thimi -5,
Bhaktapur. Sample size of 10 vegetable growers was selected randomly and information was
obtained by interviewing with semi- structured questionnaire, Field visit and Key informant
survey. Data obtained from survey were tabulated and analysed by using MS-Excel software.
Results showed that broad leaf weeds e.g. Ageratum conyzoides, Alternanthera philoxyroides,
Alternanthera sesselis, Amaranthus veridis, Caesulia axillaris, Commelina diffusia have serious
problem only in summer and rainy season whereas grassy weeds like Cynodon dactylon,
Echinochola crusgalli, Eluesine indica, Digitaria sp., Paspalun disticum etc and mothes like
Cyperus s.p, Fimbristylis littoralis have year round problem. All of the farmers use certified and
almost weed free seed and manage the weed by hand weeding, but 10% do not safely manage the
uprooted weed whereas 90% use it in composting, mulching and cattle feeding. It also shows
that 70% of the farmers use weed free manure and 30% use weed free equipments to prevent the
spread of weed and only 30% of farmers mulch their field. It indicates that the farmers are
involving in weed management in their way knowingly or unknowingly but problem in
management of uprooted weed. Hence the farmers recommended to manage weed in the proper
age and stage of their lifecycle before reproductive maturity, safely management of uprooted
weed and not to use matured weed in mulching and compost preparation and the government
and non government sectors to aware farmers about it.

i
Key words: Vegetable, Weed, Management.

Table of Contents
Acknowledgement ......................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Abstract .......................................................................................................................................................... i

Table of Contents ........................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 1

1.1. Background ................................................................................................................................... 1

1.2. Problem Statement and Justification ............................................................................................. 3

1.3. Objectives ..................................................................................................................................... 3

2. Literature Review.................................................................................................................................. 4

2.1. Classification of Weeds ................................................................................................................ 5

2.2. Characteristics of Weeds ............................................................................................................... 6

2.3. Harmful Effects of Weeds............................................................................................................. 6

2.4. Beneficial Effects of Weeds .......................................................................................................... 7

2.5. Management Strategies of Weeds ................................................................................................. 7

2.5.1. Weed Prevention ................................................................................................................... 7

2.5.2. Weed Eradication .................................................................................................................. 8

2.5.3. Weed Control ........................................................................................................................ 8

3. MATERIALS AND METHODS ........................................................................................................ 10

3.1. Study site..................................................................................................................................... 10

3.2. Methods of Data Collection ........................................................................................................ 10

3.2.1. Source of Primary Data ....................................................................................................... 10

ii
 3.2.2. Source of Secondary Data ................................................................................................... 11

3.3. Data Processing and Analysis ..................................................................................................... 11

4. Result and Discussion ......................................................................................................................... 12

4.1. Socio-Economic Condition of the Respondents ......................................................................... 12

4.1.1. Literacy Status of the Respondents ..................................................................................... 12

4.1.2. Main Occupations of Respondents...................................................................................... 12

4.1.3. Land Holdings of the Respondents ..................................................................................... 13

4.2. Major Vegetable Grown In Study Area ...................................................................................... 13

4.3. Major Weed of Vegetables ......................................................................................................... 14

4.4. Weed Management Practice........................................................................................................ 16

4.4.1. Prevention ........................................................................................................................... 16

4.4.2. Control ................................................................................................................................ 16

4.5. Management of Uprooted Weed ................................................................................................. 18

5. Conclusion and Recommendation ...................................................................................................... 19

References ................................................................................................................................................... 20

Annex 1: Questionnaire .............................................................................................................................. 21

Annex 2: Picture of major weed of vegetables ........................................................................................... 23

iii
1. Introduction

1.1. Background
Nepal is predominantly an agricultural country. Agriculture in Nepal has long been based on
subsistence farming. The economic well being of Nepal is very closely bound to its natural
resources arable land, water, and forest areas. Although only comprising some 21 percent of land
area, agricultural land is the major determinant of economic activities and the nation’s
sociopolitical identity; it provides employment opportunities to 66 percent of the total population
and contributes roughly 36 percent to GDP (www.moac.gov.np). Among the commercially
important agricultural commodities of Nepal, vegetables (cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber,
tomato, onion, and chili) have been identified as some of the most promising for increasing
incomes of smallholder farmers through improved production and marketing. Still Nepalese
agricultural growth is constrained by poor infrastructures, weak institutions, and inadequate
technical support for commercialization. Among them weed is becoming a serious problem
mostly in vegetable cultivation which is causing up to 40 % yield loss directly or indirectly.
Weeds reduce crop yields by competing with crops form water, nutrients and light. Some weeds
release toxins that inhibit crop growth, and others may harbor insects, diseases or nematodes that
attack crops. Weeds often interfere with harvesting operations, and sometimes contamination
with weed seeds or other plant parts may render a crop unfit for market. A weed is defined as any
unwanted plant. Most weeds are wild plants; however, crop plants growing out of place are also
weeds. In vegetables, weeds can cause severe yield reductions and can delay or interfere with
harvesting of vegetables if left uncontrolled.
The first step in weed management is to identify the weeds and understand their life cycles.
Weeds may be categorized by life cycles, and management strategies can be developed
accordingly. Annual weeds complete their life cycles in 1 year and reproduce solely by seed.
Annuals are divided into summer and winter groups depending on when they grow. Primary
tillage operations often control winter annuals before a crop is planted in the spring. The most
common weeds in vegetable crops are summer annuals (such as barnyardgrass, giant foxtail,

1
common purslane, redroot pigweed, and common lambsquarters). Mechanical and cultural weed
management methods help in suppressing summer annuals. Perennial weeds live for more than 2
years and reproduce by seed or vegetative structures (stolons, rhizomes, corms, bulbs, tubers, or
roots). Because perennial weeds are extremely difficult to manage in vegetable crops, it is
usually better not to use a field with severe perennial weed problems.
An effective weed control program includes environmentally sound cultural, mechanical and
chemical weed control methods. The increasing concern with pesticide residues in the
environment, food and groundwater make it especially important that growers use herbicides as
efficiently as possible. Crop rotation, cultivation, use of cover and companion crops, and use of
different herbicides help avoid buildup of resistant weeds and pesticide residues in the soil.

Weed losses can be reduced by prevention, eradication, or control.

Weed prevention primarily means good farm sanitation. You start with weed-free fields, and
then you prevent weeds from being introduced, from spreading, or from going to seed.
Preventive methods include using clean seed, cleaning contaminated equipment, keeping
fencerow and ditch-bank weeds from seeding and spreading, and spot treating small weed
infestations within the field.
Weed eradication completely destroys or removes all weed plants, including regenerating plant
parts. Eradication is sometimes justifiable, as in the case of small new infestations of particularly
troublesome weeds (such as dodder), even at relatively high costs or even when a portion of the
crop must be sacrificed.
Weed control is usually the most reasonable approach. Many weeds are so widespread that
eradication--though desirable--becomes economically impractical. You can, however, use
control measures to reduce the infestation to a level that will enable you to produce a profitable
crop in spite of the weeds.

Common methods to control weeds in vegetables include mechanical, cultural, and use of
herbicides (chemical). Use of mechanical or physical and cultural methods is applicable in
organically produced vegetables and is also effective in small farms and home gardens.
Herbicides are effective tools to manage weeds in commercial vegetable production using IPM
tactics.

2
 1.2. Problem Statement and Justification
Nagadesh is considered as a kitchen garden for Kathmandu valley as it produces various
vegetables according to the consumer’s demand of the Kathmandu valley. It is also one of the
leading areas for growing fresh vegetables. Among various vegetables, the most important ones
grown at Nagadesh are leafy vegetables (Broad Leaf Mustard, spinach, cress, turnip, etc.), Cole
crops (cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli,), potato, cucumber spices etc. Despite of continuous
efforts given in agriculture by the farmer, the land productivity and crop yields are affected by
different factors and of them; Among them weed is becoming a serious problem.
Weeds is becoming a serious a threat to vegetable crops as diseases and other pests, and they
occur wherever vegetable crops are grown in Bhaktapur area. Most of the farmer’s efforts on the
other means of increase the vegetable production rather weed management. Successful
vegetable production often depends upon the integration of weed management with other pest
management strategies. Weed management is the effective and economic way to increase the
income from vegetable farming by reducing the production loss rather to effort to increase the
production by increasing the other inputs especially for small holders. Most of the farmers of the
Nagadesh area are small holders so; effective weed management strategies will be beneficial to
improve the vegetable production the better income. Majority of the vegetable growers are
illiterate in the Nagadesh area, so they are poorly acknowledged with the effective way to weed
management in vegetable and safely dispose of harvested weed.
Although the weed management is important factor to increase the vegetable production in the
bhaktapur and Nagadesh area, very little work have been done in the field of weed management
of vegetable in this area. This study will be beneficial to identify the weeds of vegetable in this
area, existing weed management practices and space for improvement.

1.3. Objectives
 To identify the major weed of vegetable crops at the Nagadesh area.
 To identify the weed management practices in vegetable crops adopted by local farmers.
 To identity the best strategy for weed control in vegetable crops for the area.

3
2. Literature Review
The word weed has been derived from the old English weed. The term weed is defined as
herbaceous plant not valued for use or beauty , growing wild and rank and regarded as
cumbering the ground or hindering the superior vegetation .The Dictionary of ecology weed is a
general term for any troublesome or otherwise undesirable plant ,usually introduced ,grows
without international cultivation .According to the dictionary of biological sciences weed is used
by gardeners in the case of plant growing without human encouragement compound names of
lower plants/animals. A weed is plant growing where it is not desired . Thus weeds are
uncultivated plants that are not desired by man with respect to place and time of occurrence.
Weed does not belongs to a particular group of plants .Under certain circumstances ,each plant
species can be weed .Hardly any plant species is a weed as such. All weeds are unwanted plants
but all unwanted plants may not be weeds. If plants grow wild without interfering in mans affairs
they are not regarded as weeds. For instance Achyranthes they are not regarded as weed but
when it grows in crop lands and interferes in mans activities it is considered a weed. Cynodon
dactylon is world’s worst weed of crop fields but is a desirable plant in lawns, range lands and
permanent bunds.
Weeds interfere with the utilization of land and water resources. Man, the master of agriculture
wants to exploit certain habitats that are favorable for raising crops. In such an environment it is
not always possible to excludes weeds completely and also it may be desirable .Weed
management is thus the reduction of the population and growth of weeds to a level where its
usefulness is greater than the damage it could reasonably be expected to cause
Vegetable crops are generally more vulnerable to weed competition than agronomic crops,
because many of them are short-season crops and they are usually weak competitors against
weeds. In addition, weeds can reduce the efficiency of protection against disease and insect
pests, thereby lowering quality and marketability, and can cause crop losses by interfering with
mechanical and hand harvesting.
Weed management in vegetable crops requires a multifaceted approach, built on an
understanding of weeds and the crop. Reductions in vegetable crops caused by weeds often mean
the difference between profit and loss. Severe reductions in direct-seeded tomatoes with full-
season competition of cocklebur, tall morning glory, redroot pigweed, and large crabgrass. Most

4
work with vegetables indicates that weed competition in the first 4 weeks of crop growth can
result in severe crop reduction.

2.1. Classification of Weeds

There are over 30000 species of weeds around the world of which about 18000 cause serious
losses. Each weed species does not require specific control measures and their nature and mode
of infestation and the possible harmful effects also differ. Several weed species need complete
eradication from certain geographical area, some species may require prevention from
reinfestation by adopting certain measures and still others require control or suppression for the
time being utilized for the production Several weed management technique .This is because of
similarity in some aspects of their ontology, physiology, morphology, anatomy, and overall
biology and also the requirement of the agro-climate
The first step in weed management is to identify the weeds and understand their life cycles.
Weeds may be categorized by life cycles, and management strategies can be developed
accordingly. Annual weeds complete their life cycles in 1 year and reproduce solely by seed.
Annuals are divided into summer and winter groups depending on when they grow. Primary
tillage operations often control winter annuals before a crop is planted in the spring. The most
common weeds in vegetable crops are summer annuals (such as barnyard grass, giant foxtail,
common purslane, redroot pigweed, and common lambsquarters). Mechanical and cultural weed
management methods help in suppressing summer annuals. Perennial weeds live for more than 2
years and reproduce by seed or vegetative structures (stolons, rhizomes, corms, bulbs, tubers, or
roots). Because perennial weeds are extremely difficult to manage in vegetable crops, it is
usually better not to use a field with severe perennial weed problems.
Vegetable weeds Can be classified the as summer annuals, winter annuals, biennials, or
perennials. Each group of weeds follows a distinct life cycle on which the control program is
usually based. Summer annual weeds grow every spring or summer from seed; they produce
seed, mature, and die in one growing season. Winter annual weeds come up in late summer or
fall from seed, then mature and produce seed the following summer. Seed of most winter annuals
are dormant in the spring but germinate in the late summer or fall. Biennial weeds grow from
seed anytime during a growing season. They normally produce a rosette of leaves close to the
soil surface the first year; then they flower, mature, and die the following growing season.

5
Perennial weeds become established by seed or by vegetative parts, such as root stocks or
rhizomes, and they live for more than two years.

2.2. Characteristics of Weeds

Weeds being nourished by nature are more tolerant of adverse edaphic, climatic and biotic
factors compared to domesticated crop plants. Weed bears certain special characteristics which
help in their perpetuation, multiplication, dissemination, stabilization and overall adaptation,
which are as follows.
 Weeds perpetuate from generation to generation through seeds and vegetative propagaules.
 In crop field a large number of weed species co exit and produce seeds and thus in a season
a few million weed may be produced.
 The Dissemination of seeds or propagules of weeds take place by mobile agents man and his
activities animals including birds wind and water.
 Weeds find their suitable sites and times for establishment by their intristics nature which
breaks dormancy through the triggering action of edaphic, climatic and biotic factors.
 Weeds are widely adopted in the world.

2.3. Harmful Effects of Weeds

Weed interfere with mans utilization of land and water in various ways. The direct harmful
effects of weeds may not be apparent in many cases while other pests and pathogens produce
noticeable symptoms of infestation or infection. Weeds extend the harmful effects slowly
steadily and inconspicuously and such effects are realized almost at an irrevocable stage.
Harmful effects of weeds in crop fields are as follows;
a) Reduce the yield of crops
b) Increase the cost of agriculture
c) Increase the irrigation requirements
d) Reduce the value of produce
e) Reduce the quality and quantity of products from livestocks and birds
f) Protect insects pest pathogen and parasites
g) Reduce value of land
h) Impair the purity of varieties
i) Cause health hazards to animals and men

6
 2.4. Beneficial Effects of Weeds
No plant in this earth is completely worthless each one has some contribution to make which
justifies its existence. If weeds are handled or managed properly they prove their value such
value may not always be worthwhile to human beings some of the beneficial effects of weeds are
as follows;
a) Valued for increasing organic matter in content soil.
 Weeds when incorporated into the soil increase organic matter content.
 Valued for increasing soil fertility.
 Valued for checking soil erosion.
 Valued for inducing soil formation.
b) valued for supplying food feed medicine
c) valued for economic utilization
d) valued as indicator plants
e) valued as the source of genetic material for crop improvement
f) valued as maintaining biological equilibrium
g) Valued as host for beneficial organism

2.5. Management Strategies of Weeds

In managing weeds in vegetable crops, there are many methods employing various combinations
of nonchemical and chemical means. Practices that promote a reduction in herbicide use are of
increasing importance because of consumer concerns about pesticide residues and potential
environmental contamination from pesticides, and because many useful herbicides are not
registered for use in vegetable crops. According to Rakesh S. Chandran Weed losses can be
reduced by prevention, eradication, or control.

2.5.1. Weed Prevention

Weed prevention primarily means good farm sanitation. We should start with weed-free fields,
and then prevent weeds from being introduced, from spreading, or from going to seed.
Preventive methods include using clean seed, cleaning contaminated equipment, keeping
fencerow and ditch-bank weeds from seeding and spreading, and spot treating small weed
infestations within the field.

7
 2.5.2. Weed Eradication
Weed eradication completely destroys or removes all weed plants, including regenerating plant
parts. Eradication is sometimes justifiable, as in the case of small new infestations of particularly
troublesome weeds (such as dodder), even at relatively high costs or even when a portion of the
crop must be sacrificed.

2.5.3. Weed Control

Weed control is usually the most reasonable approach. Many weeds are so widespread that
eradication--though desirable--becomes economically impractical. We can, however, use control
measures to reduce the infestation to a level that will enable you to produce a profitable crop in
spite of the weeds.
Weed of the vegetable can be controlled by two ways; non chemical weed control and chemical
a) Non- Chemical Weed Control
Weed management should start with nonchemical strategies that reduce problems caused by
weeds. The aim should be to manage the weed population so it is below a level that reduces our
economic return. Most common non-chemical weed management strategies can be summarized
as follows.
S.N. Practice Comments
A. Cultural

1. Land selection Avoid fields with a history of weed problems.

2. Crop selection Grow the most competitive crops in fields with a history
of weed problems.
3. Crop rotation Rotate between vegetables and non-row crops such as
alfalfa. Rotate between vegetables in different botanical
categories.
4. Adapted crop varieties Select crop varieties adapted for your area.

5. Proper row spacing and Use row spacings and plant densities that assure rapid
plant densities crop-canopy closure
6. Correct planting times Plant crops when soil temperatures favor rapid
germination and emergence.
7. Appropriate fertility, disease, Vigorous, healthy crops are more competitive against
and insect management weeds.

8
8. Mulch Natural mulches are difficult to use over large acreages.
Synthetic (plastic) mulches are useful to manage weeds
within the row in warm-season crops.
Consider disposal problems when using plastic mulches.
B. Mechanical

1. Moldboard plowing Can eliminate emerged annual weeds.

2. Rotary hoeing Useful to manage small-seeded weeds in large-seeded
crops such as sweet corn, snap beans, lima beans, and
peas.
3. Row cultivating Dislodge or cover as many weed seedlings as possible.
Avoid damaging crop root systems
4. Mowing Mow weeds as soon as flowers appear so no viable weed
seed is produced.
C. Biological
1. Cover crops Still experimental. Winter rye system is the most
promising and most effective against small-seeded
broadleaf weeds.
2. Insect or disease pests of No current system uses insects or diseases to manage
Weeds weeds common to vegetables.

b) Chemical Weed Control

Vegetables are considered minor crops in reference to pesticide use inasmuch as the acreage of
any one vegetable crop is small as compared with that of small grains, corn, soybeans, or cotton.
Generally, chemical companies do not consider it economically feasible to develop a herbicide
solely for a minor crop if that herbicide is not suitable for a major crop as well. As a result, most
herbicides used in vegetable crops were previously developed for a major crop. Moreover, most
minor crops are expensive (high-cost) crops. Liability or risk of lawsuits, and additional
registration costs further reduce a company’s interest in adding such crops to a label. For these
reasons, fewer herbicides are available for use in vegetable crops as compared with major crops.

9
3. MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.1. Study site

Location : Madhyapur Thimi-5, Nagadesh
Date of study : From July 10 to 25
Climate : Sub- tropical

3.2. Methods of Data Collection

The study was conducted by collecting primary data and supported by secondary data to some
extent. The primary data were collected from the field survey. The secondary data were collected
by reviewing various published and unpublished documents related to weeds management
practices of vegetable.

3.2.1. Source of Primary Data

Primary data were collected from field survey conducted with the help of questionnaire, field
visit, and key informant survey.
a) Questionnaire
A set of semi-structure Questionnaire was prepared and asked with the farmer to collect the
information about the major weeds of vegetable and their management practices adopted by local
farmer. Randomly 10 farmers were selected to collect the information. Beside this, the general
information about the farmers and their household like; literacy, main occupation, etc were also
included in the questionnaire to know the socio-economic condition of the farmers. A model of
semi-structured questionnaire used during the field survey has been attached in Annex 1.
b) Field Visit
The data were also collected by visiting the field to observe the major weeds of vegetable and
identity them.
c) Key Informant Survey
Information related with the vegetable weeds and their management practices in the study area
were captured through key person of the study area and the field technician of the program
‘practical solution Nepal’, working for empowerment of the farmer in commercial vegetable
production.

10
 3.2.2. Source of Secondary Data
Secondary data were collected from different published and unpublished book, report and
research paper prepared by governmental and non-governmental sector related to weeds and
weed management practices in vegetable crops. The relevant literature found in different
libraries like NARC library, HICAST library etc and internet search was used.

3.3. Data Processing and Analysis

The collected data were converted into standard unit, such as land into ropani, weight into
Kilograms (Kg). After that, they were processed using both the computer programmer and
manual tabulation formats. Collected data were analyzed by using MS-Excel. The analysis data
are presented in tables and graphs.

11
4. Result and Discussion

The result obtained during the survey Major weeds and their management practices of vegetable
crops has been presented in the following headings and sub-headings. Where appropriate these
findings have been also discussed properly.

4.1. Socio-Economic Condition of the Respondents

4.1.1. Literacy Status of the Respondents

Among the respondents 10, 7 (70%) respondents were illiterate and 3 (30%) were literate.

30%

illiterate
literate

70%

Figure 1 : Literacy status of the respondents

4.1.2. Main Occupations of Respondents

During the survey, it was found that majority of the respondents i.e. 6 respondents (60%) have
their main occupation agriculture, followed by 2 respondents i.e. 20% respondents were engaged
in business and 2 respondents i.e. 20% were involved in service.

12
 20%

Agriculture
Businessman
20% 60% service

Figure 2: Main occupation of respondents

4.1.3. Land Holdings of the Respondents

Majority of the respondents have land holdings of less than 1 ropani i.e. 5 respondents and 4
respondents have land holding between 1 to 5 ropani and only one have land holding of more
than 5 ropani which is taken in lease .

Table 1: Land holdings of the respondents.

S.N. Land holding Frequency
1. Less than 1 ropani 5
2. 1-5 ropani 4
3. More than 5 ropani 1

4.2. Major Vegetable Grown In Study Area

Although most of the farmers of the Nagadesh area were small holder, they used to cultivate
different species of the vegetable in different season. Vegetable used to grown in the study area
are as follows.
Table 2: Major vegetables grown in Nagadesh area
Winter crops Summer crops Rainy crops
Broad Leaf Mustard Carrot Deshi Palungo

Carrot Spanich Green leaf of Dundu

Garlic Cress Okra

13
 Cress Coriander
Coriander Fenugreek
Fenugreek Thi Palak
Cauliflower Beans (Long)
Potato Chili
Onion Tomato
Soup Brinjal
Turnip Zinger
Radish Pumpkin
Thi Palak Cucumber
Cabbage Okra
Letuse Bitter gourd
Leak Sponge gourd
Garlic Soybean
Green leaf of Dundu Bottle gourd
Knolkol
Pakchoi
Chiyot

4.3. Major Weed of Vegetables

Major weeds found in vegetable at the study area are as follows;
Table 3: Major weeds of vegetable found in Nagadesh area
Common Name Local Scientific Name Family Prevailing
Name Season
Broad leaf weed

Goat weed गन्धे Ageratum conyzoides Asteraceae Summer, Rainy

Alligator weed पटपटे Alternanthera Amaranthaceae Summer, Rainy

philoxyroides

14
Joyweed भिर िं गी Alternanthera sesselis Amaranthaceae Summer, Rainy

Slender लट्टे साग Amaranthus veridis Amaranthaceae Summer, Rainy

amaranthus
Dayflower थुकझा Caesulia axillaris Asteraceae Summer, rainy

Tropical काने Commelina diffusia Commelinaceae Summer, Rainy

spiderwort
Hairy gallinsoga िृङ्ग ाज Eclipta prostrate Asteraceae Rainy

Para cress लाटो घााँ स Spillanthus paniculata Asteraceae Rainy

Common कुल्फा Portulaca oleracea Portulacaceae Rainy

purslane घााँ स
Grassy weed

Bermuda grass दु बो Cynodon dactylon Gramineae Year round

Bamyard grass सािं वा Echinochola crusgalli Gramineae Year round

Goose grass कोदे घााँ स Eluesine indica Gramineae Summer, rainy

बन्सो Digitaria sp. Gramineae Summer, rainy

Kont grass घोडे बन्सो Paspalun disticum Gramineae Summer, rainy

Mothe
Sedge मोथे Cyperus sp. Cyperaceae Year round

Hoorah grass भझरुवा Fimbristylis littoralis Cyperaceae Year round

15
 4.4. Weed Management Practice
Vegetable growers of the Nagadesh area use various strategies of weed management knowingly
or unknowingly in vegetable field. The strategies adopted by local people for weed management
can be classified as follows.

4.4.1. Prevention
Most of the farmer use certified vegetable seed in their farm which are almost weed free; hence
they prevent the introduction of the weed along with seed in the field. But some time they use
local seed in some crops like fenugreek, radish, coriander, etc which may cause the introduction
of weed. But only 3 farmers i.e. only 30 % clean their equipment properly before use in new
field, rest 70% does not follow this. In other hand 7 farmers i.e. 70 % use well decomposed
compost/manure so prevent introduction of weed seed in the farm through manure, where as
30% use compost which is not properly decomposed, which can be shown in the following
figure.
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
No. of farmer does not
50% adopted
40%
No. farmer adopted
30%
20%
10%
0%
Use of weed Use of weed Use of weed
free seed free equipment free manure

Figure 3: Status of prevention activities of weed

4.4.2. Control
Farmers of the study area used to adopt different practices to control the weed in the vegetable
crop. Most of the farmer grow vegetable intensively, so they give limited space for the weed
emergence. They also perform cultural operation like weeding, hoeing, earthing up, mulching etc
timely and effectively

16
 a) Cultural Weed Control
The farmers use various cultural practices in the vegetable farm to control the weed. They select
appropriate crop and varieties suitable in their locality. They planted their crop in proper spacing
in the suitable season with the application of the appropriate dose of the fertilizer and manures
which fasters the vegetable canopy development and increases the competition capacity with the
weed.
They use to mulch the cropping field in order to manage their crop byproducts or thinned product
of the vegetable in order to maintain the soil moisture and nutrition at the same time it work as
the weed suppressor in the field. Among the surveyed farmers 3 farmers used to mulch their field
knowingly or unknowingly to control the weed where as 7 farmers do not follow it.

30%

farmer use mulch

farmer do not use mulch

70%

Figure 4 Status of mulching in vegetable farm

b) Mechanical Control
Manual weeding is the most common practice adopted by the local farmer of the Nagadesh to
control the weed in the vegetable field. All of the sampled farmers use to manual hand weeding
in the field in regular interval. Besides weeding they also follow hoeing, and earthing up. None
of the farmer used to any machines and equipments for weeding in the vegetable field.

17
 c) Chemical Control
Although the chemical weed control is the economic, easy and effective way of weed control in
the vegetable farm, none of the farmers use any chemicals to control the weed in the vegetable.
Since most of the farmers are small holders so they can easily manage the weed from mechanical
and cultural means so they do not prefer the chemicals for weed control.

4.5. Management of Uprooted Weed

Safely dispose of harvested weed is equally important to the management of the weed. If we did
not care on safely dispose of the weed after its harvesting it may be serves as the source of weed
for another field. Most of the farmers used the collected weed from the vegetable field to make
compost, some of them use to feed the cattle, some use for mulching and some of them throw the
harvested weed here and there, this cause quick spread of the weed in the area. Some of them use
in variable purpose, which can be cleared from the following figure.
12

10

8 4
No. of farmers

6
7 No. of the farmer does
6
9 not use
4 No. of the farmer used
6
2 4
3
1
0
compost Cattle feed Mulching Throw
nearby
field

Figure 5: Management of uprooted weeds

18
5. Conclusion and Recommendation
Conclusion
The study shows that most of the farmers of the Nagadesh area are illiterate and they have
agriculture as their primary source income. Most of the educated persons are more alert about
weed and their management. But most of the illiterate farmers have does not idea about
management and safely management of the uprooted weed besides manual weeding. Weed is a
serious problem in the area mainly in the summer and rainy season but during winter season less
incidence of the weed in vegetable farm.
The entire farmer of the studied area used to manually hand weeding for management in the
vegetable farm. Most of the farmer use weeds free certified seed, preventing the introduction of
the weed in the new field. They also adopt with mulching, earthing up, hoeing of the vegetable
farm to manage weed knowingly or unknowingly.
The majority of the farmers used to make compost with uprooted weed. Most of the farmers are
aware with compost preparation due to the financial and technical support of Practical Solution
Consultancy Nepal.
Recommendation
Since, the Weeds have both harmful and beneficial effects. So the farmers of the Nagadesh area
should be aware to take the benefit from the weed by reducing its harmful effects. Although they
are managing the weed in the vegetable field, but there is problem in the management of
uprooted weeds from the field. They are also using the matured weeds as mulching materials and
the raw material for compost preparation. Hence the farmers should be trained with the proper
stage and method of the weed management. The farmers also be conscious themselves to
properly handling and management of the harvested weed from the vegetable field. They are
recommended to safely manage of uprooted weed and not to use the mature weed in mulching
and compost preparation.

19
References
 Coolong T., Bessin R., Wright S. (2012) Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial
Growers. University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Kenny.
 Bernard H. (2012) Weed Control Guide for Vegetable Crops. Department of Horticulture,
Michigan State University
 Rakesh S. Chandran, Lewis W. Jett (2007). Weed Management in Vegetables.
Vegetables and Small Fruits WVU Extension Service
 Masiunas J. (1997). WEED Control for Commercial Vegetable Crops Department of
Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences
 Rajbhandari, B. P., Bhatta, G. D.( 2008). food Crop: Agro-Ecology and Modern Agro-
techniques. HICAST, Ktm.
 Sing C., Sing P., Sing R. (2008). Modern Techniques of Raising Field Crops. India.
 Nepal Krishi Prawidi Pustak, Nepal Agricultural Information and Extension Centre,
Nepal
 Gupta, O.P.(2004). Modern Weed Management, Agrobios ,INDIA
 Thoms J. Monaco,Stephen C.Weller,Floyd M. Ashton (2001). Weed Science Principles
and Practices. University of California, California.

20
Annex 1: Questionnaire

Interview No: Date:

1. Farmers name:
2. Address :
3. Sex

a) Male b) female

4. Literacy

a) Literate b) Illiterate

5. Main occupation

a) Agriculture b) Service (GOs / NGO) c) Business d) other (....................)

6. Land holding for vegetable production ( Ropani)

A) Less than 1 b) 1-5 c) above5

7. Vegetable crops used to grow

a) Winter season................. ................. ................. ................. ................. .................

................. ................. ................. ................. ................. ................. .................

b) Summer season................. ................. ................. ................. ................. .................

................. ................. ................. ................. ................. ................. .................

c) Rainy season................. ................. ................. ................. ................. .................

................. ................. ................. ................. ................. ................. .................

8. Major weeds observed in the field

a) Winter season................. ................. ................. ................. ................. .................

................. ................. ................. ................. ................. ................. .................

b) Summer season................. ................. ................. ................. ................. .................

................. ................. ................. ................. ................. ................. .................

21
 c) Rainy season................. ................. ................. ................. ................. .................
................. ................. ................. ................. ................. ................. .................

9. Source of seed

a) Purchase from market b) collected in own farm c) other (...................)

10. Properly cleaning of equipment before entering in the new field

a) Yes b) No

11. Type of compost use

a) Well decompose b) Partially decomposed c) Undecomposed

12. Adaptation of cultural practices

a) Hand Weeding b) Hoeing c) Earthing up d) Mulching

e) Others (..................................)

13. Management of uprooted weed

a) Composting b) Feed Cattle c) Mulching

d) Others (...........................................)

14. Comment

22
Annex 2: Picture of major weed of vegetables

Ageratum conyzoides Alternanthera philoxyroides Alternanthera sesselis

Amaranthus veridis Caesulia axillaris Commelina diffusia

Cynodon dactylon Cyperus sp. Digitaria sp.

23
Echinochola crusgalli Eclipta prostrate Eleusine indica

Fimbristylis littoralis Portulaca oleracea Spillanthus paniculata

24