Knowledge Level of Tribal Farmers Regarding Parthenium (Parthenium hysterophorus L.) Weed and their Control Actions

The study was conducted in Kandhamal district of Odisha State during the year 2015-2016. Parthenium hysterophorus is a weed, which produces allelopathic substances that deter other plants from germinating and growing near it. Study revealed that majority (60.95%) of the respondents had medium level of knowledge about Parthenium weed, majority (56.25%) respondents had medium level of knowledge regarding control measure practices of Parthenium weed. Majority (50.78%) of the respondents had medium level of knowledge about total spread area 33.59 about 48 per cent respondents had low level of knowledge about life cycle. About 49 per cent respondents had low level of knowledge about seed production. Majority of the respondents (49.23%) had low level of knowledge about type and condition of soil for seed germination. Maximum (58.59%) of the respondents had low level of knowledge regarding knowledge about harmful effect. Most of the respondents (85.15%) had low level of knowledge regarding knowledge about harmful effects on human health. Most of the respondents (94.54%) had low level of knowledge regarding knowledge about identification of skin allergy through patch test. maximum number of the respondents (87.50%) had low level of knowledge regarding knowledge about scientific methods of Parthenium weed control. Majority of the respondents (60.94%) had low level of knowledge regarding knowledge about uprooting method, cent per cent respondents had low level of knowledge regarding knowledge about legal method. Majority of the respondents (99.22%) had low level of knowledge regarding knowledge about for making acid and biogas form. Majority of the respondents (100%) had low level of knowledge regarding knowledge about bacterial method that majority of the respondents (99.22%) had medium low level of knowledge regarding knowledge about cultural method.