Abstract

Weeds are the major ecological and economic pest in Ethiopia. A Survey of weed flora in sugarcane was conducted at Arjo Didessa sugar estate to assess weeds in sugarcane plantation fields. It was carried out on 40 fields of the sugarcane plantation farm. The fields were stratified into two soil types (luvisol and vertisol). The soil groups were further stratified into plant cane and ratoon cane. Then, the plant and ratoon canes were further stratified into sugarcane cultivars; NCO334 and N14. Two to five fields were surveyed in each stratum and a total of 420 samples were collected. The survey was made at the early growth stages (25-30 days after planting) for plant cane and one week before fertilization for ratoon cane fields using 0.25m2 quadrat following a pattern of inverted “W” continuously for every 2.5-3 ha. Weed plants in each quadrat were collected and identified species-wise. The result showed 169 weed taxa belonging to 34 families. The most abundant families that account for 84.62% of the total weed species were: Gramineae, Compositae, Fabaceae, Cyperaceae, Convolvulaceae, Solanaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Amaranthaceae, Malvaceae, Commelinaceae, Cucurbitaceae, and Liliaceae. Similarity indices of two soil types, two sugarcane crop types, and two sugarcane cultivars varied from 35.23% and 59.05% indicating differences in weed community between all strata. Therefore, the planning of weed control strategy should treat all stratus separately using different control methods