Weed diversity in maize (Zea mays L.) fields in South Western Cameroon

A B S T R A C T Understanding the weed flora of a particular crop helps decide an effective weed management strategy. Maize, though a good competitor cannot cope with a number of competitive weeds at a time. Hence, the present study was aimed at documenting the weeds in maize crop in the South West Region of Cameroon in the growing seasons of 2010 2013. A total of 53 weed species were recorded as problematic and inflicting yield losses to maize crop. The weeds belong to 53 different families with Asteraceae as the most dominant (15%) of the weed flora of the crop and was followed by Poaceae (8%), Fabaceae (6%), Euphorbiaceae (6%) and Amaranthaceae (6%). These five families contributed 41% of the weed flora of maize crop. As far as the distribution pattern of the weeds was concerned, there were five dominant weeds, viz., Amaranthus spinosus, Bidens pilosa, Commelina benghalensis, Mariscus alternafolius and Cynodon dactylon. The rest of the weeds were however occasional and did not have consistent and dominant distribution. The distribution of weed species was diverse and important for the botanists and weed scientists to formulate a long term weed management strategy in the locality in light of the weed flora recorded in maize crop.