Study of Phenology of Chrysanthemum segetum L. and Its Impact on Crop Productivity in Cheliya District, Ethiopia

Abstract

Studies on distribution, impact and phenology of   Chrysanthemum segetum was carried out in Cheliya district. The aim was to study the distribution, impact and phenology of C. segetum. Assessment was done at regular interval of 5 km along gravile and main roadsides. Phenology of the weed was investigated under the natural conditions through regular visit.  C. segetum was distributed in specific surveyed locations having different altitudinal ranges from 1993-2820m in study area. It was observed to infest crop land and grazing lands, but its infestation was found most serious at crop land than grazing lands. Scale of infestation of the weed varied among different locations depending up on time of its introduction in to the area. Animal dung, flood, crop seed, birds and farm machinery is found to be the major dispersal agents. Most of the farmers in the surveyed areas have recognized C. segtum invasion cause significant reduce in crop yield.  C. segtum was ranked as first based on its negative impact on crop production and productivity.  Hand weeding is the most common practice to manage C. segetum infestation in the study areas. The weed started to germinate at early May to late July even extended to August; flowering in early August to mid-September and the seeds fully ripened in September to December and even it extended to January at the study area.  C. segetum produce high number of branch per plant (75.50) and averages of seeds per plant (11,551). The present investigation indicated that C. segetum significantly reduce crop productivity. Phenology of C .segetum was studied. Therefore, there is a need to develop scientifically proven control measure and contain the further spread of the weed to non-infested areas.

Keywords: Chrysanthemum segetum, Phenology, Relative frequency, Percentage frequency Distribution, Impact, Infestation

DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/9-2-04