Distribution pattern and ecological determinants of an invasive plant Parthenium hysterophorus L., in Malakand division of Pakistan (original) (raw)
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Parthenium hysterophorus L. has become a weed of global concern owing to its fast expansion and invasive character. In order to study the status of this noxious weed and its impact on floristic diversity in Dhauladhar foothills, the study was conducted during the year 2021-2022 in culturable wastelands of Dhauladhar ranges in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, India. The impact of Parthenium hysterophorus L. on associated species at different altitudes and aspects was observed. Our observations depicted that Parthenium hysterophorus L. has been growing more vigorously in the northern aspect than the southern aspect with the density of 37.78 m −2 and 21.62 m −2 , respectively. The highest density of this noxious weed was recorded in the altitudinal range of 600-1200 m (34.32 m −2) while it was not observed beyond 1805 m above sea level. The invasion of Parthenium hysterophorus L. significantly affected the plant density of other species. The descending order of the species as per dominance was observed as Cynodon dactylon, Trifolium repens, Oxalis latifolia, Parthenium hysterophorus L., and Ageratum houstonianum. The average number of species and species density were observed more in non-invaded sites (9.35 and 27.67 m −2) than in invaded sites (7.10 and 20.60 m −2). Species abundance and plant cover were observed more in noninvaded sites (28.73 and 657.90 m 2 ha −1) than in invaded sites (22.70 and 322.30 m 2 ha −1). Species diversity, richness, and evenness were reported to decline in invaded sites (1.56, 0.95, and 0.81, respectively) with respect to the non-invaded sites (1.94, 1.16, and 0.88, respectively). The study highlights the significant concerns associated with the invasive weed within the plant communities. Understanding its invasive status holds considerable implications for local afforestation initiatives, forest management strategies, and conservation policies. Furthermore, this investigation lays a foundational groundwork for implementing effective measures to get rid of this alien weed.
Parthenium hysterophorus (Asteraceae) is a noxious plant that is considered one of the most invasive species in the world. We studied changes in the composition of plant species and soil properties related to the invasion of P. hysterophorus in three grassland communities of central Nepal. We collected vegetation and soil data along transects that were established in densely invaded to non-invaded areas within homogenous grassland stands. We found significant differences between invaded, transitional and noninvaded plots in species composition and soil properties. There were fewer species in non-invaded than transitional and invaded plots. By P. hysterophorus invasion both native and non-native species were supported or replaced, respectively. The concentrations of soil nitrogen and organic matter were significantly higher in transitional and invaded plots than in non-invaded plots. Soil pH, phosphorus and potassium were highest in the invaded plots, lowest in the non-invaded and intermediate in the transitional plots. Due to changes in above-ground vegetation and below-ground soil nutrient contents, P. hysterophorus invasion is likely to have an overall negative effect on the functioning of the entire ecosystem. Therefore, management of noxious P. hysterophorus is necessary to prevent future problems.
Parthenium hysterophorus L. - a predominant weed flora among phytosociology of Islamabad, Pakistan
2012
Parthenium hysterophorus belonging to family Asteraceae is a fast maturing invasive weed native to the subtropics of North and South America and now a cumbersome weed in Pakistan. Its invasion in Pakistan is of recent era and spreading like wild fire. Hence documentation of its infestation in various areas of the country is immensely important. A survey was conducted in five randomly selected residential sectors of Islamabad Pakistan selected randomly viz. F-8, G-8, I-10, G-9 and H-9. The data were recorded on absolute density, relative density, frequency and relative frequency. The data reveal the highest relative density percentage (23.41%, 11.36%, 19.11%, 30.65%, and 28.88%) for top ranking weed. Cynodon dactylon was recorded for at sectors F-8, G-8, I-10, G-9 and H-9 respectively. Parthenium emerged as the next predominant species across the various Sectors. The data exhibit that it even surpassed the C. dactylon at I-10 (20.42%) and H-9 (15.55). While the minimum relative densi...
Weed Biology and Management, 2006
Biological invasion by alien invasive species is now recognized as one of the major threats to native species and ecosystems. Parthenium weed (Parthenium hysterophorus L.), an alien invasive weed species, is spreading throughout Pakistan. Worldwide, it has been designated as one of the most troublesome weed species. The adverse effects of this weed on human beings, livestock, crop production, and biodiversity are well-documented. As a result of a lack of information on its spread in Pakistan since its invasion, a phytosociological survey, with special reference to parthenium weed, was carried out in Islamabad from August–October 2002. Six main sectors of Islamabad were selected for sampling. The phytosociological survey of these sectors of Islamabad revealed a total of 30 weed species to be associated with P. hysterophorus. The survey also showed a high relative frequency, relative density, and importance value of P. hysterophorus in general; however, the percentage relative frequency of the weed in these sectors ranged from 10.6–30.3%. This survey revealed that P. hysterophorus had an appreciable degree of sociability with Senna occidentalis (L.) Link, Malvastrum coromandelianum (L.) Garcke and Lantana camara (L.). The data on the association of L. camara with P. hysterophorus suggests that a transition phase of competition or succession is in progress between these two alien species. The population of many common medicinal plants growing in the wastelands of Islamabad might be rapidly declining because of the aggressive colonization by P. hysterophorus. The ever-increasing infestation of this weed in urban areas also poses a serious threat to the health of the inhabitants of Islamabad.
Distribution pattern of Parthenium hysteropurus, a noxious alien weed, across various land use types, its impact on species richness and forage production of grassland, and local people's perception of the weed were investigated in western Chitwan, Nepal, during monsoon of 2013. Distribution pattern was studied by examining the locations identified randomly using Arc GIS 9.3. Grassland ecosystem was sampled at 5 different sites with 10 pairs of 1 m × 1 m quadrats, i.e. 10 quadrats in high invasion sites (coverage P. hysterophorus >80%) and 10 in low invasion area (coverage P. hysterophorus <20%). People's perception on the arrival of P. hysterophorus in Chitwan, and its' negative impacts on crop production, and human and livestock health were assessed using group discussion with the locals at five locations. The spatial analysis of P. hysterophorus L. showed that the weed has had higher frequency of occurrence in urban area and hardwood forest, with presence rate of 100% and 52.47%, respectively, followed by non-irrigated cropland (26.6%), irrigated cropland (29.4%), sand and gravels (21.1%), and grazing land (17.4%). This study revealed that land use type has had significant effect on density and height of P. hysterophorus L. but not in the production of biomass (biomass for all grass species combined other than P. hysterophorus L. and total biomass). Species richness was significantly higher in sites with low cover of P. hysterophorus than in sites with high cover. Effect of land use type on species richness for same level of invasion was not significant. Similarly, there was high level of similarity of species composition between different level of invasion and different land use types. But majority of native species tends to be rarer in high invasion areas. According to people's perception, the weed first appeared in the study area about 10 years back (in early 2000s) and it has been rapidly spreading since then. The weed also caused harm to people and animals when exposed causing throat and mouth infection in cattle and skin allergies and eye infections in children. It has been perceived by the local people that transportation and monsoon floods were the primary reasons for the introduction of this weed to the locality.
Fuel and Energy Abstracts, 2011
Parthenium hysterophorus (Asteraceae) is a noxious plant that is considered one of the most invasive species in the world. We studied changes in the composition of plant species and soil properties related to the invasion of P. hysterophorus in three grassland communities of central Nepal. We collected vegetation and soil data along transects that were established in densely invaded to non-invaded areas within homogenous grassland stands. We found significant differences between invaded, transitional and non-invaded plots in species composition and soil properties. There were fewer species in non-invaded than transitional and invaded plots. By P. hysterophorus invasion both native and non-native species were supported or replaced, respectively. The concentrations of soil nitrogen and organic matter were significantly higher in transitional and invaded plots than in non-invaded plots. Soil pH, phosphorus and potassium were highest in the invaded plots, lowest in the non-invaded and intermediate in the transitional plots. Due to changes in above-ground vegetation and below-ground soil nutrient contents, P. hysterophorus invasion is likely to have an overall negative effect on the functioning of the entire ecosystem. Therefore, management of noxious P. hysterophorus is necessary to prevent future problems.
Distribution of Parthenium Weed in Peshawar Valley, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa- Pakistan
2014
Parthenium hysterophorus L. is a weed of national significance in Pakistan. Although infesting many districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, but more affected districts are Swabi, Mardan, Charsadda and Peshawar where it is highly invasive and invaded most of the open spaces roadsides, etc and threatening the local biodiversity. Field survey of four districts of the Peshawar valley, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa viz. Swabi, Mardan, Charsadda and Peshawar were carried out during May-June, 20092010 to study the distribution and invasion of parthenium weed. Twenty five locations were sampled from each district. Data regarding absolute and relative density, frequency, relative frequency, importance valve %, average importance value, constancy classes and importance value constancy index of parthenium weed and other weeds of the area were recorded by using (1x1 m 2 ) quadrate. The mean data across the surveyed districts reveals that the flora is predominated by parthenium weed with the highest rela...
Life History Traits and Invasion Success of Parthenium hysterophorus L. in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal
Nepal Journal of Science and Technology, 2015
Parthenium (Parthenium hysterophorus L.) is an invasive alien species of global significance which is rapidly expanding in Nepal and other Asian countries with negative impacts on species diversity, health of human and livestock, and productivity of pasture and agriculture. To understand the invasive success of this weed, we analysed soil of its invaded sites, morphological traits, biomass allocation, leaf attributes, and phenology in the Kathmandu valley. The roadside soil, which is loamy sand in the valley is highly suitable for the growth and proliferation of the parthenium weed where its density has become double in less than a decade. An average size plant was 112 cm tall with 12 cm long tap root and produced 2637 achene per plant (max. 3865 per plant). A combination of different leaf traits enables the parthenium to grow under diverse habitats such as resouces poor condition (due to low specific leaf area, SLA), disturbed habitats (due to low leaf dry matter content, LDMC) as well as productive sites (due to high leaf nitrogen content). During rainy season it completes lifecycle in 16-18 weeks. Relatively long (12-16 weeks) reproductive period with high output of small seeds and their capacity to germinate and flower anytime in the year make parthenium a successful invasive weed in the Kathmandu valley.
Threats of Parthenium hysterophorus on agro- ecosystems and its management: a review
Invasive plant species have potential to damage our crops, our industries, the environment and public health and hence scientists, academics, leaders of industry and land managers are realizing that invasive species are serious environmental threats for the 21st century. Parthenium weed is an annual herb in the family Asteraceae which is native to northern Mexico and southern USA. The weed produces a large basal rosette and once established will suppress the growth of weak or overgrazed pastures by both direct competition and allelopathy. This weed also recognized as one of the leading threats to biodiversity and imposes tremendous costs on agriculture, forestry, fisheries, wetlands, roadsides, natural areas, and other human enterprises, including human health. Invasive species take a heavy economic toll every year worldwide. Thus Parthenium is a weed of national significance. Due the nature of producing large quantities of seed and higher possibilities of dissemination this management of this weed is a difficult task. In this review we shed light on the biology of parthenium and its possible mechanisms of dispersal and dissemination. We also discuss the possible ways to manage this weed.
Parthenium hysterophorus is a noxious invasive weed and is ever expanding in its introduced range including Nepal. Understanding vegetation dynamics including soil seedbank in Parthenium invaded communities and the growth pattern of the weed itself is essential for effective management of Parthenium. We monitored growth of Parthenium (height, density, cover and soil seedbank) and plant species composition of associated species for 5-year period from 2009 in a grassland invaded by Parthenium in south-central Nepal. We found that Parthenium cover and height decreased from 2009 to 2010 and then slightly increased in 2013. Parthenium density decreased from 2009 to 2010 and then was variable until 2013. Year ? grazing interactions had significant effect on Parthenium cover and density. Parthenium soil seedbank was eight times higher near the soil surface than in deep soil. It increased from 2009 to 2012 but decreased in 2013. Seedbank was also affected by interactions of year ? depth, de...