TITLE:
Characterization of the Weed Flora in Rainfed Crops in the Northern Peanut Basin (Senegal)
AUTHORS:
Modou Ka, Ndongo Diouf, Penda Lo, Mamadou Faye, Samba Laha Ka, Kandioura Noba
KEYWORDS:
Characterization, Flora, Weeds, Rainfed Crops, Peanut Basin, Senegal
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Applied Sciences,
Vol.15 No.6,
June
13,
2025
ABSTRACT: In Senegal, pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.), groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.), and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp.) are the main crops of the groundnut basin. These crops play a crucial role in food security programs and socio-economic development strategies. However, their productivity is increasingly affected by various biotic constraints (pests, diseases, and weed pressure) and abiotic factors (poor soil fertility, declining rainfall), leading to a continuous decrease in yields. To address these challenges, it is essential to develop effective solutions, particularly for weed management, to enhance agricultural production. Effective weed control requires a thorough understanding of weed flora, its dynamics, vegetation structure, and the harmfulness of different species. This study was conducted to improve knowledge of Senegal’s weed flora to optimize agricultural production, particularly in the Niakhène area. Specifically, it aims to characterize the weed flora of rainfed crops in this region. To achieve this, field surveys were conducted on 309 plots between 2020 and 2021 in pearl millet, groundnut, cowpea, and fallow fields using the “field border walk” method. This approach allowed the identification of 112 species belonging to 78 genera and 34 families. The flora was predominantly composed of dicotyledons, accounting for 78.57% of the recorded species. The most represented families were Fabaceae (22.32%) and Poaceae (15.18%). In terms of biological types, therophytes were the most dominant (71.43%), followed by phanerophytes (21.43%), while other types (nanophanerophytes, chamaephytes, and parasitic species) collectively accounted for only 4.47%. From a biogeographical perspective, African species were the most prevalent (41.07%), followed by pantropical species (30.36%). The study also revealed that rare or accidental species were dominant, representing 64.3% of the weed flora in the Niakhène area. Floristic variability analysis indicated no significant differences in species composition between the weed flora of pearl millet, groundnut, cowpea, and fallow fields, nor between different field types (home fields and bush fields).