Effect of Sunflower (Helianthus Annuus L.) on the Suppression of Some Summer Weeds at the Field Station of the University of Zambia
Keywords:
Weeds, Allelopathy, Sunflower
Abstract
Weeds present a major challenge to crop production and need to be controlled. Several methods of weed control exist but they have proved to be less than successful especially in the tropics; therefore new ways of using these methods are still being sought. The use of allelopathy, a form of biological weed control, has been proposed. A systematic screening of 6 sunflower varieties, a crop known to have allelopathic activities was done at the Field Station of the University of Zambia in the 2008/09 and 2009/10 rain-fed growing seasons using a RCBD with 2 maize varieties as the control. Weed diversity was observed, while weed density, weed biomass and crop yield were measured and subjected to analysis of variance. Results showed that although there was a wide diversity of weeds present,15 were most prevalent. Sunflower varieties, generally, had lower weed density and weed biomass than the control maize varieties. But varietal differences among the sunflower varieties were discerned. The yield reduction was higher in maize grown in a weedy environment than for the sunflowers although here again varietal differences were evident among the sunflowers. It was concluded that the use of sunflower varieties Milika, Record and PAN7352 as an alternative crop can help to reduce weeds in the field.References
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H. Wu and J. H. Kent (eds). Proceedings of the 4 world congress on allelopathy. Charles Sturt University. Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia. International Allelopathy Society.
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32. Vivanco, J. M., Bias, H. P., Stermitz, T. R., Thelen, G. C. and Callaway, R. M. 2004. “Biogeochemical variation in community response to root allelochemistry; novel weapons and exotic invasion”. Ecology Letters 7: 285 - 292.
33. Bias, H. P., Vepachedu, R., Gilroy, S., Callaway, R. M. and Vivanco, J. M. 2003. “Allelopathy and exotic plant invasion; from molecules and genes to species interactions”. Science 301:1377– 1380.
34. Callaway, R. M. and Aschehoug, E. T. 2000. “Invasive plants versus their new and old neighbours; a mechanism for exotic invasion”. Science 290:521 - 523
35. Kupidlowska, E., Gniazdowska, A., Stepien, J., Corbineau, F., Vinel, D., Skowczowski, A., Janeczko, A. and Bogatek, R. 2006. “Impact of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) extracts upon reserve mobilization and energy metabolism in germinating mustard (Sinapis alba L.) seeds”. Journal of Chemical Ecology 32:2569– 2583.
36. Wilson, R. E. and Rice, E. L. 1968. “Allelopathy as expressed by Helianthus annuus L. and its role in oil field succession”. Bull Torrey Bot. Club 95:432–448.
37. Bhowmik, P. C. and Doll, J. D. 1982. “Corn and soybean response to allelopathic effects of weed and crop residue”. Agronomy Journal 74:601 –602.
38. Irons, S. M. and Burnside, O. C. 1982. “Competitive and allelopathic effects of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)”. Weed Science 30:372– 377.
39. Menges, R. M. and Tomez, S. 1981. “Common sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) interference in onion (Allium cepa)”. Weed Science 29:641–647.
40. Everman, W. J., Burke, I. C., Clewis, S. B., Thomas, W. E. and Wilcut, J. W. 2008. “Critical period of grass vs. broadleaf weed interference in peanut”. Weed Technology 22(1):68– 73.
41. Cousens, R. D. 1985. “An empirical model relating crop yield to weed and crop density and a statistical comparison with other models”. J. of Agricultural Sci 105:513-521
42. Hall, M. R., Swanton, C. J. and Anderson, G. 1992. “The critical period of weed control in grain corn (Zea mays)”. Weed Sci. 40:441 - 447
43. Zimdahl, R. L. 1980. Weed-crop competition, a review. An International Plant Protection Center publication. Oregon State University. USA.
44. Zimdahl, R. L. 1988. The concept and application of the critical weed-free period. In M. A. Altieri and M. Liebmann (Eds). Weed management in agroecosystems: Ecological approaches. CRC Press. Boca Raton. Florida USA. 145–155pp.
2. Kong, C. H. 2010. “Ecological pest management and control by using allelopathic weeds (Ageratum conyzoides, Ambrosia trifida and Lantana camara) and their allelochemicals in China”. Weed Biol. and Management 10:73 – 80.
3. Broz, A. 2006. Allelopathic potential of sunflower ( H e l i a n t h u s a n n u u s L . ). http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/Entomology/courses/en570/papers_2006/broz.pdf. (downloaded 17th December 2007).
4. Olofsdotter, M., Jensen, L. B. and Courtois, B. 2002. “Improving crop competitive ability using allelopathy – an example of rice”. Plant Breeding121(1):1–9.
5. Kohli, R., Singh, H. and Batish, D. 2001. Allelopathy in agroecosystems: An overview. New York NY. Hawthorne Press Inc.1 – 42pp.
6. WSSA, 2006. http://www.wssa.net/herb&control/biocontrol.htm (downloaded 10th December 2007).
7. Kruse, M., Strandberg, M. and Strandberg, B. 2000. Ecological effects of allelopathic plants – a review. National Environmental Research Institute. Silkborg, Denmark.NERI Technical Report No. 315. 66 pp.
8. Shiraishi, S., Watanabe, I., Kuno, K. and Fujii, Y. 2002. “Allelopathic activity of leaching from dry leaves and exudates from roots of ground cover plants assayed on agar”.Weed Biology and Management 2 (3):133–142.
9. Caamal-Maldonaldo, J. A., Jimenez-Osomio, J. J., Torres-Barragan, A. and Anaya, A. L. 2001. “The use of allelopathic legume cover and mulch species for weed control in cropping systems”. Agronomy Journal 93: 27 – 36.
10. Tabaglio, V., Gavazzi, C., Shultz, M. and Marocco, A. 2008. “Alternative weed control using the allelopathic effect of natural benzoxazinoids from rye mulch”. Agron. Sustain.Dev.28:397 – 401.
11. Alsaadawi, I. S. 1987. “Phytotoxin resistance by Rhizorbium meliloti mutants”. Plant and Soil 102:279 – 282.
12. Tet-Vun, C. and Ismail, B. S. 2006. “Field evidence of the allelopathic properties of Dicranopteris linearis”. Weed Biology and Management 6 (2):59– 67.
13. Khanh, T. D., Chung, M. I., Xuan, T. D. and Tawata, S.2005. “The exploitation of crop allelopathy in sustainable agricultural production”. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science191(3):172–184.
14. Kobayashi, K. 2004. “Factors affecting phytotoxic activity of allelochemicals in soil”. Weed Biology and Management 4 (1):1 – 7.
15. Wu, H., Pratley, J., Lemerle, D. and Haig, T. 1999. “Crop cultivars with allelopathic capability”. Weed Research 39: 171–180.
16. Duke, S. O., Dayan, F. E., Rimando,A. M., Schrader, K. K., Aliotta, G., Oliva,A. and Romagni, J. G. 2002. “Chemicals from nature for weed management. Weed Science” 50 (2): 138–151.
17. Putnam, A. R. 1988. “Allelochemicals from plants as herbicides”.Weed Technology 2:510 – 518.
18. Kato, T., Yokotani-Tomita, K., Kosemura, S. and Hasegawa, K. 2005. “Allelopathy of fruits in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) and Mexican sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A. Gray.)”. 4 World Congress on Allelopathy.
19. Semidey, N. 1999. Allelopathic crops for weed management in cropping systems. Allelopathy update Vol.2. Basic and applied aspects. Science Publishers Inc. Enfield. New Hampshire.Chapter 13.
20. Robinson, R. G. 1978. Production and culture. IN J. F. Carter (Ed.). Sunflower science and technology No. 19. Agronomy series.TheAmerican Society ofAgronomy Inc. USA. 89– 143 pp.
21. Weston, L. A. 1996. Utilization of allelopathy for weed management in agroecosystems. Allelopathy in cropping systems.Agronomy Journal 88: 860 – 866. IN J. Grace and D. Tilman (Eds.). Perspectives on plant competition. Academic Press, San Diego. California. USA.
22. Mead, R. N., Curnow, R. N. and Hasted, A. M. 2000. Statistical methods in agriculture and experimental biology. Texts in statistical science. Chapman and Hall/CRC.415pp.
23. Mwala, M. S. 1997. Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). IN S.W. Muliokela (Ed.). Zambia seed technology handbook. Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries. Printed in Sweden, BerlingsArlov. 262–272pp.
24. Hoshmand, R. A. 1998. Statistical methods for environmental and agricultural sciences. CRC Press. Boca Raton, New York. 439pp.
25. Vernon, R. 1983. Field guide to important arable weeds of Zambia. Balding and Mansell Ltd. London. 151 pp.
26. Morris, P. and Parish, D. 1992. “Effects of sunflower residues and tillage on winter wheat”. Field Crops Research29:317 – 327.
27. Leather, G. R. 1987. “Weed control using allelopathic sunflowers and herbicides”.Plant and Soil 98:17 -23.
28. Birkett, M. A., Chamberlain, K., Hooper, A. M. and Pickett, J. A. 2001. “Does allelopathy offer real promise for practical weed control management and for explaining rhizosphere interactions involving higher plants?” Plant and Soil 232:31 – 39.
29. Malinowski, D. P., Belesky, D. P. and Fedders, J. M. 1999. “Endophyte infection may affect the competitive ability of tall fescue grown with red clover”. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science 183:91-101
30. Anjum, T., Stevenson, P., Hall, D. and Bajwa, R. 2005. Allelopathic potential of Helianthus annuus L. (sunflower) as natural herbicides. In J. D. I. Harper, M.An,
H. Wu and J. H. Kent (eds). Proceedings of the 4 world congress on allelopathy. Charles Sturt University. Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia. International Allelopathy Society.
31. Wang, G., McGiffen, Jr. M. E., Ehlers, J. D. and Marchi, E.C. S. 2006. Competitive ability of cowpea genotypes with different growth habit. Weed Sci.54:775-782.
32. Vivanco, J. M., Bias, H. P., Stermitz, T. R., Thelen, G. C. and Callaway, R. M. 2004. “Biogeochemical variation in community response to root allelochemistry; novel weapons and exotic invasion”. Ecology Letters 7: 285 - 292.
33. Bias, H. P., Vepachedu, R., Gilroy, S., Callaway, R. M. and Vivanco, J. M. 2003. “Allelopathy and exotic plant invasion; from molecules and genes to species interactions”. Science 301:1377– 1380.
34. Callaway, R. M. and Aschehoug, E. T. 2000. “Invasive plants versus their new and old neighbours; a mechanism for exotic invasion”. Science 290:521 - 523
35. Kupidlowska, E., Gniazdowska, A., Stepien, J., Corbineau, F., Vinel, D., Skowczowski, A., Janeczko, A. and Bogatek, R. 2006. “Impact of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) extracts upon reserve mobilization and energy metabolism in germinating mustard (Sinapis alba L.) seeds”. Journal of Chemical Ecology 32:2569– 2583.
36. Wilson, R. E. and Rice, E. L. 1968. “Allelopathy as expressed by Helianthus annuus L. and its role in oil field succession”. Bull Torrey Bot. Club 95:432–448.
37. Bhowmik, P. C. and Doll, J. D. 1982. “Corn and soybean response to allelopathic effects of weed and crop residue”. Agronomy Journal 74:601 –602.
38. Irons, S. M. and Burnside, O. C. 1982. “Competitive and allelopathic effects of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)”. Weed Science 30:372– 377.
39. Menges, R. M. and Tomez, S. 1981. “Common sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) interference in onion (Allium cepa)”. Weed Science 29:641–647.
40. Everman, W. J., Burke, I. C., Clewis, S. B., Thomas, W. E. and Wilcut, J. W. 2008. “Critical period of grass vs. broadleaf weed interference in peanut”. Weed Technology 22(1):68– 73.
41. Cousens, R. D. 1985. “An empirical model relating crop yield to weed and crop density and a statistical comparison with other models”. J. of Agricultural Sci 105:513-521
42. Hall, M. R., Swanton, C. J. and Anderson, G. 1992. “The critical period of weed control in grain corn (Zea mays)”. Weed Sci. 40:441 - 447
43. Zimdahl, R. L. 1980. Weed-crop competition, a review. An International Plant Protection Center publication. Oregon State University. USA.
44. Zimdahl, R. L. 1988. The concept and application of the critical weed-free period. In M. A. Altieri and M. Liebmann (Eds). Weed management in agroecosystems: Ecological approaches. CRC Press. Boca Raton. Florida USA. 145–155pp.
Published
2014-12-31
How to Cite
1.
Kambikambi T, Yerokun O, Mbewe D. Effect of Sunflower (Helianthus Annuus L.) on the Suppression of Some Summer Weeds at the Field Station of the University of Zambia. Journal of Agricultural and Biomedical Sciences [Internet]. 31Dec.2014 [cited 4Aug.2025];2(1):18-7. Available from: https://journals.unza.zm/index.php/JABS/article/view/345
Section
Agriculture Sciences
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