Ecological aspects of weed flora of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) fields of Visakhapatnam District, A.P., India

Turmeric (Curcuma longa L) is one of the most valuable spices all over the world and important medicinal plant. Visakhapatnam is one of the turmeric (Curcuma longa L) growing areas it is being grown during rainy season and is a long duration crop. Turmeric fields are severely infested with 118 (94 dicots, 24 monocots) weed species belonging to 99 genera and 36 families. Parthenium hysterophorus was most abundant weed followed by Elephantopus scaber, Merremia hederacea, Merremia tridentata and Conyza stricta etc . Parthenium hysterophorus followed by Cyperus rotundus, Cynodon dactylon and Trianthema portulacastrum, Boerhavia diffusa etc., were found to be most densely populated weeds. Cyperus rotundus, Parthenium hysterophorus, Boerhavia diffusa and, Cynodon dactylon and Trianthema portulacastrum etc. were high frequency species. The Important Value Index calculated for the individual weed species encountered in field revealed interesting results. Parthenium hysterophorus was the most important species followed by the Cyperus rotundus, Trianthema portulacastrum, Cynodon dactylon and Boerhavia diffusa. Out of 118 species: A class is represented by 56 species followed by 37 under B, 19 under C and 4 under D, 2 species under E. There is an urgent need to take necessary intervention to create awareness among the farmers for adopting integrated weed management strategies to improve and maintain the quality and yield of turmeric. Further research work is needed in the fields of weed control and weed biology.