Weed Flora in the Rift Valley Sugarcane Plantations of Ethiopia: Weed Composition, Distribution, Flora Shift and influence of Environmental and Crop Management Practices

Weeds are constant component of agro-ecosystem and alternative control methods have been used to control them in sugarcane. However, to design effective weed control measures, identification, characterization and quantification of weed species in a certain area are important steps. Information on weed density, distribution and species composition help to predict yield losses. The present finding determines the prevalence and distribution of weeds; assess the influence of some environmental and crop management practices on weed species composition and distribution; and evaluate the shift in weed flora during the past 13 years in the sugarcane plantations of Ethiopia (Wonji-Shoa and Metahara). Such information would enable the sugarcane plantations of Ethiopia to decide whether it is economical to control a specific weed problem and evaluate the existing weed management practices.