UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE

FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE CROP SCIENCE DEPARTMENT Course Title: Course code: Contact Hours: Introduction to weed science CR 218 Lectures Practicals Total Lecturers: = = = 36 hours (3*1h lectures per week for 12 weeks) 18 hours (1*3h practical per fortnight for 12 weeks) 54 hours

Mr. J. T. Rugare and Dr. S. Mabasa

Purpose of the course: This is a compulsory Bsc Honours in Agriculture course for all second year Crop Science students designed to equip students with the knowledge of weed biology, ecology and crop interference by weeds in agricultural systems. This course has one prerequisite (CR 102 Plant Biology) which is central to the understanding of the biology and ecology of weeds. CR 218 is a prerequisite to CR 312 (Weed Management) which is offered in the third year of the Bsc Honours in Agriculture degree. Aim: To provide a theoretical and practical background for students to become confident and able practitioners in the field of weed science. Objectives (Intended learning Outcomes) ILOs By the end of the course the student should be able to: 1. Identify weeds. 2. Assess the economic damage caused by weeds in agricultural systems. 3. Understand the biology of important parasitic, aquatic, difficult to control weeds and poisonous plant species of Zimbabwe. 4. Understand the different types of weed-crop interference and how each of them can be manipulated for weed management purposes. 5. Design and carry out laboratory and field experiments.

6. Develop oral presentation skills. 7. Develop scientific writing skills. COURSE CONTENT Definition (s) of a weed in relation to occupation of disturbed habitats HOURS METHODS/STRATEGIES OF TEACHING 1 Lecture

Economic importance- detrimental and 1 beneficial aspects of weeds Characteristics of weed 8 (a) Characteristics related to seed behavior-seed output, dormancy, seed banks, longevity, and periodicity of weed seed germination. (b) Adaptation/characteristics related to plant growth rate- relative growth rate (RGR) of weeds versus crops, relationship between seed size and growth site, C3/C4 pathways and competitiveness, weed crop mimicry. Practicals
1. Effect of depth of burial on weed seed 3 germination. 2. Effect of seed polymorphism on germination of blackjack and 3 Cocklebur seeds.

Discussion Lectures

Green house practical

Laboratory practical Lectures

Vegetative reproduction and methods of dispersal (a) Types of vegetative propagation (b) Advantages and disadvantages of vegetative reproduction to weeds (c) Methods of seed dispersal Weed classification and identification and preservation (a) Weed classification (b) Weed identification keys (c) Importance of identification of young growth stages. Practicals
1. Weed identification

2 Lecture

Field trip to Henderson Weed Research Institute and practical.

2. A study of the weed spectrum in

the field plots around the campus

3. Weed collection and preservation.

Field practical.

3 Weed seed bank ecology (a) Methods of measuring weeds in the seed bank (b) Applications of weed seed bank studies in weed management. Practical
Weed seed bank sampling and germination. MID SEMESTER TEST

Field and Laboratory practical Lecture

3 1

Practical Written Test Lectures and Practicals

Weed Crop interference 9 (a) Definition of interference, competition and allelopathy (b) Types of plant-plant interactions (c) Effects of increasing weed density on crop biomass and economic yield (d) Period when weeds are present and length of weed free period-effect on yield. (e) Factors affecting weed crop competition-weed factors, crop factors, human factors and environmental factors (f) Allelopathy- true and functional allelopathy, source and nature of allelochemicals. (g) Methods of studying allelopathy Practical
Crop weeds competition experiment.

Parasitic weeds in tropical crops (1) Parasitic weed problems in Zimbabwe (a) Striga species (b) Allectra vogelli (c) Dodder (Cuscuta species) (2) Biology of these parasitic weeds (3) General control strategies

Green house experiment Lectures

Practical Screening cereals for tolerance to Striga asiatica and legumes for tolerance to Alectra vogelli. Biology of problem weeds in Zimbabwe (a) Cyperus esculentus (Yellow nutsedge) (b) Cyperus rotundus (Purple nutsedge) (c) Rottboellia cochinchinensis (Shamva grass) (d) Avena fatua (Wild Oat) (e) Cynodon dactylon (Couch/Bermudargrass) (f) Others Poisonous plants of Zimbabwe (a) Datura stramonium (b) Solanum species (c) Ricinus communis (d) Lantana camara (e) Cucumis species (f) Others Aquatic weeds of Zimbabwe (a) Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) (b) Kariba weeds (Salvinia molesta) (c) Water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) (d) Others Field Trip END OF COURSE TEST

Laboratory experiments

Lectures

Lectures

Lectures

3 1

Field Trip to Lake Chivero Written Test

Student Assessment: Assessment of this course shall be based on continuous assessment and end of course examination. Continuous assessment will count for between 20-33 % of the overall mark as determined by the Examiner concerned, for example: a. Written assignments and Practicals 15 % b. Mid semester and end of course test 15 % c. Final Examination 70 % The following marking scheme and key to grades shall be adopted for this course:

Mark attained (%)

75-100

Grade
1

65-74 60-64 50-59 <50

2.1 2.2 3 F (Fail)

N.B 1. Lectures and practicals are compulsory. 2. Students with a continous assessment mark which is less than 40 % will not be allowed to write the final examination. Course evaluation: This course shall be evaluated by: Self (Lecture by lecture) Peers (At convenient times) Students (Twice per semester) Departmental Chairman (Overall feedback)

Reference Textbooks 1. Monaco, Thomas J., Weller Steve C., Ashton and Floyd M. (2002). Weed Science: Principles and Practices, John Wiley and Sons, Inc. 2. Francisco A, Macias, Juan C. G. Galindo, Jose M. G. Molinillo, Horace G. Cutler. (2003). Allelopathy: Chemistry and Mode of Action of Allelochemicals, CRC Press. 3. Roger Cousens, Martin Mortimer. (1995). Dynamics of Weed Populations. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom. 4. Zimdahl R. K. (2004) Weed-crop competition: A review. Academic press, Inc. California. United States of America 5. Robert Zimdahl (2008). Fundamentals of Weed Science (Third edition, Academic Press.
6. Inderjit (2004). Weed Biology and Management. Springer

7. Makanganise A and Mabasa S. (1999). Field guide to the identification of important Weeds of Arable Lands in Zimbabwe. Department of Research and Specialist Services Publication. Harare, Zimbabwe. 8. Christopher Lightfoot (1975). Common Veld Grasses of Rhodesia. Government printers, Harare, Zimbabwe. 9. Anderson W.P. (1983). Weed Science Principles. West publishing Co. Minnesota. United States of America. 10. Gupta O.P. (2004). Modern Weed Management. Agrobios. Jodhpur. India.

Online resources 1. AGORA 2. TEEAL 3. Open Source (Internet)