AGR 3102AGR 3102PRINCIPLES OF WEED PRINCIPLES OF WEED

SCIENCESCIENCE

UNIT 3UNIT 3WEED AND HUMAN: WEED AND HUMAN:

BENEFICIAL OF WEEDSBENEFICIAL OF WEEDS

Benefits of weeds???Benefits of weeds???

Amongst are:Amongst are:

Stabilizing & adding organic matter to soils – dead Stabilizing & adding organic matter to soils – dead weed plants can become compost, fertilizer, mulching weed plants can become compost, fertilizer, mulching agent.agent.

Providing habitat and feed for wildlife (i.e. nectar for Providing habitat and feed for wildlife (i.e. nectar for bees).bees).

Agronomical value: prevent soil erosion, nutrient (NAgronomical value: prevent soil erosion, nutrient (N22) ) fixation and retention, i.e. creeping legume weeds as fixation and retention, i.e. creeping legume weeds as groundcover crops: groundcover crops: MimosaMimosa spp., spp., AsystasiaAsystasia spp. spp. Centrosema pubescens, Calopogonium mucunoides.Centrosema pubescens, Calopogonium mucunoides.

Used as groundcover cropsUsed as groundcover crops

• Ornamental purposes/aesthetic qualities – Ornamental purposes/aesthetic qualities – some weeds produce beautiful flowers: water hyacinth. some weeds produce beautiful flowers: water hyacinth. Landscape plants: Landscape plants: AcaciaAcacia spp. and spp. and Lantana camaraLantana camara..

Turfgrass: Turfgrass: Cynodon dactylonCynodon dactylon, , AxonopusAxonopus spp., spp., PaspalumPaspalum spp. – Turfgrass Science (Prof. spp. – Turfgrass Science (Prof. Abdul Shukor Juraimi).Abdul Shukor Juraimi).

Employment opportunities.Employment opportunities.

• Products for human consumption: Products for human consumption: Limnocharis flavaLimnocharis flava, , maman ( maman (Cleome gynandarCleome gynandar, , C. pentaphyllaC. pentaphylla), fern-pucuk paku), fern-pucuk paku..

• Medicinal use: senduduk Medicinal use: senduduk ((Melastoma malabathricumMelastoma malabathricum)),, dukung anak (dukung anak (PhyllantusPhyllantus spp.), rumput jarum mas ( spp.), rumput jarum mas (Striga Striga asiaticaasiatica), ), L. camara; Vernonia cinereaL. camara; Vernonia cinerea ( (Barreto F. et al. 2010. J. Barreto F. et al. 2010. J. Young Pharm 1;2(1):42-44; Leelarungrayub et al. 2010. J. Young Pharm 1;2(1):42-44; Leelarungrayub et al. 2010. J. International Society of Sports Nutrition 2010, 7:21International Society of Sports Nutrition 2010, 7:21).).

http://www.globinmed.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=79342:dukung-anak&catid=791:dhttp://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/others/melastoma/malabathricum.htm

Biofuel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Biofuel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Some can potentially become pasture crops Some can potentially become pasture crops (forage) or fodder (hay, silage) for animals, i.e. (forage) or fodder (hay, silage) for animals, i.e. PaspalumPaspalum spp., spp., DigitariaDigitaria spp. spp. Cynodon dactylon – Cynodon dactylon – Pasture Management Pasture Management (Dr. Ridwan Halim).(Dr. Ridwan Halim).

Biological resource: germaplasm for medicinal use Biological resource: germaplasm for medicinal use or or a genetic reservoir for improved cropsa genetic reservoir for improved crops..

““taking advantage of their presence”taking advantage of their presence”