WEED FLORA OF CASSAVA IN WEST NILE ZONES OF UGANDA

Information on weeds of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) in eastern Africa is limited. The objective of this study was to establish the status of weed flora in selected cassava growing regions of Uganda. This study was conducted in 2013 at Abi Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute; (AbiZARDI) in Arua, Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (NgeZARDI) in Lira, and Bulindi Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Bulindi ZARDI) in Hoima, all in Uganda. Weed densities were estimated from twelve quadrant samples taken systematically along diagonal transects, in 27 cassava fields. Grass weed species were the most frequent, averaging 55.01% of the entire weed species. Five weed species namely, Digitaria abyssinica (African couch grass), Imperata cylindrica (Spear gras), Commelina benghalensis (Wandering Jew), Panicum maximum (Guinea grass) and Ageratum conyzoides (Goat weed or White weed or Chick weed), predominated the study areas.