Survey and documentation of the Weed Flora in NBU Garden of Medicinal Plants

Abstract

Weeds are the plants with generally undesirable properties. They spread rapidly and competitively. When it grows in garden it reduces air flow in garden, keeping plants wetter and more prone to pathogens. They are unattractive and can cause health problems such as Hay fever, skin rashes, etc. It also affects quality of product and income of grower. Traditionally, weed control in India has been largely dependent on manual weeding. Understand weed ecology, biology and using information technology should be part of developing and disseminating effective, economical and ecologically advantageous in India. Some weeds release nitrogen from root nodules into soil which automatically add fertilizer into the soil. A survey was conducted in NBU Garden of Medicinal Plants in West Bengal to identify most common and prevalent weeds associated with medicinal plants. A total of 86 different weed species belong to 25 families were identified of which 53 annual and 32 perennial. Among the most abundant weed species are Axonopus compressus, Eleusine indica, Cyperus rotandus, Cyperus haspan, Kylinga brevifolia, Melastoma malabathricum, Osbeckia nepalensis, Nicotiana plumbaginifolia, Persicaria orientalis.