Distribution, Severity Status, Farmers Knowledge and Management Practices of Wild Radish (Raphanus raphanistrum L.) in Horro Guduru Wollega Zone, Western Ethiopia

Abstract

The objective of the study was to study the distribution, severity status, farmers’ knowledge, impacts and management practices of Wild Radish (Raphanus raphanistrum L.) in Horro Guduru Wollega Zone, Western Ethiopia. The collected data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics. The Shannon Diversity Index (SDI), the evenness, species richness and Jaccards Similarity Index (JSI) was calculated from the recorded weed samples. Correlation of vegetation variables among and between sampled Administrative Kebeles’ was analyzed by SPSSv20 software. The result of the study indicates that out of the sampled 160 respondents 92 (57.5%) of them heard about wild radish plant as a weed and the rest of 68 (42.5%) of the respondents did not know this plant as a weed. Among the respondents 88 (55%) of them identify R.raphanistrum plant as a weed. There was high negative correlation between mean R. raphanistrium density and Shannon diversity index with R² = 0.642, p<0.001. This study showed that high infestation level of R. raphanistrum was observed in Horro district followed by Abayi Chomen, Amuru and Jima Rare districts. The highest and lowest mean population (±SD) of R. raphanistrum per quadrate was recorded at Horo (249.82 ± 34.67) and Jima Rare (13.72 ± 14.16), respectively. The biodiversity impact of R. raphanistrium at highly infested areas were more visible than the moderately infested areas. Horro and Abayi Chomen districts showed the lowest Shannon Diversity Index value of 1.78 and 2.12, respectively, due to the fact that, their species diversity was highly affected by the high population density of R. raphanistrium. Moreover, the standing herbaceous vegetation from the sampled sites of Horo district (Doyo Bariso and Gudina Abuna administrative kebeles) showed higher Jaccards Similarity coefficient (0.84), where there was high R.raphanistrium infestation level. The study proved that R. raphanistrum was emerged as invasive weed and have been disseminated into neighbor districts’ and zones. Therefore, further research should be conducted to quantify the distribution, increases in species abundance as well as its impact on biodiversity and socio-economic aspects, which may support to contain R. raphanistrum distribution and planning on its prevention and management.

Keywords: Abundance, distribution, invasive, Raphanus raphanistrum, severity, wald radish

DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/10-24-02

Publication date: December 31^st 2020