Floristic and Vegetation Study on the Main Weed Communities Associated with Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Crop

Abstract

The present study aims at studying the floristic features and community types of the main weed species associated with wheat crop in Menofia Province, Egypt. Sixty stands (each 10 × 10 m) were randomly selected in five wheat farms for monthly determining the cover of weed species along the growing season of wheat. Twenty nine species belonging to 28 genera and 17 families were recorded associated with wheat crop. The most dominant families were Poaceae, Brassicaceae and Fabaceae. Annual weeds were represented by 26 species, while perennials were 3 species. Therophytes were the dominant life form (26 species), while geophytes-helophytes, chamaephytes and hemicryptophytes were represented by on species (Cyperus rotundus, Solanum nigrum and Convolvulus arvensis, respectively). The application of TWINSPAN on the cover estimates of 29 associated species recorded in the 60 sampled stands in wheat, led to the recognition of 8 vegetation groups: A: Convolvulus arvensis, B: Malva parviflora, C: Polypogon monspliensis, D: Capsella pursa-pastoris, E: Euphorbia peplus, F: Chenopodium murale, G: Sonchus oleraceous, and H: Beta vulgaris. M. parviflora group had the highest values of species richness and relative concentration of dominance, while C. murale group had the lowest values of species richness, relative evenness and relative concentration of dominance. Moreover, the highest value of relative evenness was recorded in M. parviflora and C. pursa-pastoris group. The present study is the keystone for further investigation on the weed function and weed management practices.