Parthenium Its Survey and Competition with Weeds and Vegetables: Current Status of P. Hysterophorus in District Sialkot and Evaluation of Its Competitiveness with Some Vegetable & Weeds

Parthenium hysterophorus has become a major weed of various areas of the country in a relatively short time. In the present study the detailed survey of district Sialkot with total 53 sites was conducted to evaluate the extent of infestation of Parthenium hysterophorus. Along with P. hysterophorus a great number of other weeds were also observed during the survey. Among the waste lands of Sialkot infestation of P. hysterophorus was more than 50%, along the road side was 60%, the waterways 46% and along the crop fields was 56% and at the banks of rice fields and Trifolium sp. and in fallow land was 54%. During the survey phyto-sociological analysis was also carried out. The parameters of prevalence, absolute & relative frequency, density and importance value of Parthenium and other weed species were calculated. Among all the weed species Parthenium was most evident. Parthenium was prevalent 92.31%, 94.74% and 91.67% in Tehsil Sialkot, Daska and Pasroor respectively. Some sites exhibited complete absence of Parthenium where 14 weed species were recorded. This book could be helpful in evaluation of current status of Parthenium which may change by this invasive weed in future.