2025, Vol. 13, Issue 5, Part B

author(s)
Nilofer Bano and Rajshree Pandey

abstract
This study focuses on the weed flora associated with maize (Zea mays L.) fields in the Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh, India. The research was conducted through extensive and detailed field surveys carried out during different months of the kharif season, beginning in 2024. Fieldwork included plant exploration specifically during the kharif period. For the survey, two sites from each block were selected, with field trips conducted twice a month at each location to collect and document weed species. Weed seeds, once dispersed into natural habitats, grow rapidly and outperform native plants, leading to significant competition with crops. Farmers and agricultural experts from each site were interviewed to gain insights into seasonal weed patterns, their vegetation characteristics, and distribution trends. During the study, 127 weed species from 31 families and 103 genera were identified. Of these, 119 were herbaceous plants, while 8 were climbing species. Among the recorded weed families, Poaceae dominated with 22 species, followed by Compositae (16 species), Malvaceae (15 species), Leguminosae (13 species), Cyperaceae (9 species), and Convolvulaceae and Amaranthaceae with 5 species each.