Pak. J. Bot., 47(SI): 87-91, 2015.

EVALUATING THE THRESHOLD LEVELS OF NESLIA APICULATA IN WHEAT AND ITS EFFECTS ON CROP YIELD LOSSES IN SWAT VALLEY OF KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA

MUHAMMAD AZIM KHAN1*, F. WAHID1, UMME-KULSOOM1, K. B. MARWAT2, B. GUL1, M. INAYATULLAH1, A.M. KHATTAK1 AND S.A. KHAN1

1The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Pakistan

2SBB University Sheringal, Upper Dir, KP, Pakistan

*Corresponding author’s email: azim@aup.edu.pk

Abstract: An experiment was conducted during 2012-13 at Agricultural Research Station (ARS) Mingora Swat, KPK, Pakistan to evaluate the effect of different densities of Neslia apiculata on grain and total dry matter yield of wheat and total dry matter of N. apiculata. Randomized complete block design was used with three replications. Additive design was used where the constant seed rate (125 kg ha-1) of wheat was used. Different densities (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 m-2) of N. apiculata were maintained by using additive design. Data showed that total dry matter and grain yield (kg ha-1) of wheat was decreased with increasing density of N. apiculata. At highest density of the weed (40 plants m-2), total dry matter and grain yield of wheat were decreased by more than 60% each. With the increasing density of the weed, its dry matter yield was increased which directly decreased the grain and dry matter yield of wheat. These results indicated that the presence of N. apiculata in wheat may cause significant yield reduction if left uncontrolled in wheat fields. Such studies will facilitate the scientists and farmers in decision making processes of weed management and to evaluate the threshold levels for various densities of N. apiculata and to figure out yield losses due to N. apiculata in wheat. The study is also helpful to find out competition indices of other major weeds in wheat by using ecological designs.

Key words: Wheat, Neslia apiculata, Threshold level, Yield loss.