Determination of weed species, density, frequency and coverage areas in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) fields located in Kahramanmaras and Adana provinces

Abstract

Aims: This study was carried out to determine the weed species, density, frequency and general coverage area in sugar beet fields located at several districts in Kahramanmaras and Adana provinces. At the same time, it is aimed to determine the changes occurred in sugar factory production areas and weed species and density 20 years after 2000-2001. Methods and Results: In order to calculate the weed density seen in the study areas, 40 frames per 1 ha were used. The species, density, frequency of incidence and general coverage areas of weeds were calculated. Weed species; Sinapis arvensis L., Chenopodium album L., Echinochloa colonum (L.) Link., Cuscuta campestris Yunck., Amaranthus retroflexus L., Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers., Elymus repens (L.) Gould., Convolvulus arvensis L., Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. and Cardaria draba (L.) Desv. were detected very intensely in sugar beet fields. The frequency of incidence and general coverage area of important weed species was calculated between 64.9-50.1 % and 62.8-50.0 %.Conclusions: A total of 88 weed species belonging to 26 families were determined in the sugar beet fields in the districts of Kahramanmaraş and Adana. From these weed species, 1 species belongs to holoparasite and pteridophyta, 18 species belong to monocotyledons and 68 species belong to dicotyledon class. According to the results of the research carried out 20 years ago in Kahramanmaras sugar beet fields, significant increases were observed both in the number of species and in the number of species that are very dense.Significance and Impact of the Study: Weed species and densities, detected in sugar beet fields in Kahramanmaraş and Adana provinces, vary according to district. Holoparasite C. campestris and some weed species with rhizome and stolon stems are a major threat to sugar beet in terms of density.