Effects of mulching, staking and tillage on weed growth in yam plots during the dry season

The effects of two levels each of mulching (mulch, no mulch), staking, no stakes) and tillage (bed, mound) on weed infestation were studied in the 1994/95 and 1995/96 dry season. Data collected at the peak of yam foliation and at tuber maturity showed that mulching had no significant effect on total fresh weight of weeds. Whereas mulching depressed the fresh weight of some grass weeds, it caused an increase in the fresh weight of some broad leaf species. Some weed species were not affected by mulching. Bed tillage increased the fresh weight of broad-leaf species in the dry season of both years. Staking had no significant effect on the fresh weight weeds. KEY WORDS: Weeds, Dry, Season, Yam, Crops. [Global Jnl Agric Res Vol.1(2) 2002: 119-128