Survey of District Sialkot for the Infestation of Parthenium hysterophorus

A detailed survey of District Sialkot was conducted during August-October 2009-2010 to investigate the infestation level of Parthenium hysterophorus in the area. Three tehsils of Sialkot were selected for sampling. 53 sites were surveyed and analyzed to evaluate the extent of infestation of P. hysterophorus. The sampling sites were categorized as waste lands, edges of agricultural fields, fallow lands and waterways. Maximum infestation of P. hysterophorus was found along roadsides which were calculated as 60%, along the crop fields its value was 56%, in fallow lands it was 54%, in the waste lands 50% infestation was calculated while minimum infestation was calculated along the water channels whose value was 46%. While studying tehsil wise infestation of P. hysterophorus maximum value was found in tehsil Daska which was 94.74%, in Tehsil Sialkot it was 92.31% and minimum value was found in tehsil Pasroor which was 91.67%. Keywords: Parthenium, Survey, prevalence, waste lands, field banks, fallow lands, waterways