Research Article
Assessment and Identification of Major Weeds on Maize (Zea mays) in East Shewa and West Arsi, Zones, Oromia
Gobena Tesfaye*
,
Feyisa Begna,
Adisu Longle
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 1, March 2026
Pages:
1-7
Received:
8 December 2025
Accepted:
20 December 2025
Published:
7 January 2026
Abstract: Major cereals globally include wheat, maize, and rice, contributing 80% of production. In Ethiopia, key cereals are tef, maize, wheat, barley, sorghum, rice, and finger millet. Maize accounts for 27.02% of annual grain production, followed by tef at 17.29%. Maize yields the highest per unit area at 3.7 t/ha, followed by rice and wheat. Ethiopia's mean national wheat yield is 2600.75 kg/ha, below African and global averages. Yield-reducing factors include soil fertility decline, weeds, diseases, and insects. Weeds significantly constrain cereal crop production and are crucial for yield increase. Weeds compete for resources, negatively impacting crop yield and increasing production costs. Weeds contribute to 45% of annual agricultural product losses globally. Crop yield losses due to weeds in Africa range from 50% to 100% for various crops. Limited studies exist on common weeds affecting Maize at the West Arsi and East shewa. The weed survey was conducted in East Shewa and West Arsi zones, Oromia. Assessment took place during the main cropping seasons of 2021-2023. The survey covered seven districts: ATJK, Dugda, Bora, Lume, Negelle Arsi, Shashemanne, and Kofele. Maize fields in 37 kebeles and 107 fields were included in the survey. Key parameters such as density, frequency, relative frequency and similarity index have been analyzed for each crop. Generally, for most crops and districts, annual broad leaf weeds dominated over grass and sedge type of weeds. The most dominant family that contained the highest number of weed species for all crops and fields assessed was Asteracae followed by Poaceace and Amaranthaceae families. In most cases weeds of a crop were similar across the various districts as indicated by similarity index. The frequency of individual weed species in maize fields ranged from 1% up to 91% while the dominance value ranged from 0.71% up to 21.92%. The most frequent and dominant weeds were Galensoga palviflora and Argemone mexicana L., Maize crop.
Abstract: Major cereals globally include wheat, maize, and rice, contributing 80% of production. In Ethiopia, key cereals are tef, maize, wheat, barley, sorghum, rice, and finger millet. Maize accounts for 27.02% of annual grain production, followed by tef at 17.29%. Maize yields the highest per unit area at 3.7 t/ha, followed by rice and wheat. Ethiopia's m...
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Research Article
Effect of Different Levels of Urea Fertilizer Application on the Growth Parameters of Brachiaria Hybrid (Mulato II)
Ahmed Abubakar,
Gworgwor Zakariya Adamu,
Hyelda Abbakura John*,
Yakubu Ahmed Kirfi
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 1, March 2026
Pages:
8-12
Received:
21 May 2025
Accepted:
10 June 2025
Published:
31 January 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.ajpb.20261101.12
Downloads:
Views:
Abstract: This study was carried out to determine the effect of different levels of urea fertilizer on the growth parameters of Mulato II. This was done at the teaching and research farm of Modibbo Adama University, Yola. A completely randomized design was used, with four treatments, replicated four times and each plot size was 6m2. The treatments were; T1 (50kg/ha), T2 (100kg/ha), T3 (150kg/ha) and T4 (0kg/ha). The fertilizer was applied at week eight and 10 after planting. The growth parameters were found to vary, with the 150kg/ha at various measuring weeks exhibiting the highest mean plant height of 181.20, 187.80 and 198.40cm (9, 11 and 13 WAP respectively). The leaf length followed the trend of the plant height across the treatments and in all harvesting stage. The control produced Mulato II with the shortest leaves and T3 produced grasses with the longest leaves. The Leaf number increased with increase in the rate of urea fertilizer. At 9 WAP, 6.80, 6.75, 6.95 and 6.40 number of leaves for T1 to T4 respectively were recorded. Overall, there were no significant differences (p<0.05) between the T1 and T2 for number of leaves. There were significant differences (P>0.05) in the yield of fresh Mulato II grass at different harvesting stages across the treatments. In all harvest stages, T3 (fertilizer rate at 150 kg/ha) produced the highest fresh forage (11.65, 13.29 and 17.67 tons/ha at 9, 11 and 13 WAP respectively). The control gave the lowest forage yield in all the harvesting stages. It was concluded that application of 150kg/ha urea fertilizer and harvest after 13 weeks of planting is recommended as this can yield up to 17.67 ton/ha of Mulato II forage.
Abstract: This study was carried out to determine the effect of different levels of urea fertilizer on the growth parameters of Mulato II. This was done at the teaching and research farm of Modibbo Adama University, Yola. A completely randomized design was used, with four treatments, replicated four times and each plot size was 6m2. The treatments were; T1 (...
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