Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.5513/SZMI6803
Diversity of weed communities in cereal crops of traditional dryland oases of SW Algeria (North Africa)
Mohammed Souddi
; Saharan Natural Resources Laboratory, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, University of Ahmed Draia
*
M’hammed Bouallala
; Higher School of Saharan Agriculture
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Cereals are among the most important crops in arid and semi-arid regions and are widely cultivated in the traditional oases of southwestern Algeria. However, their productivity is constrained by several biotic and abiotic factors, particularly weeds. This study aimed to analyse weed communities associated with cereal crops in these oasis agroecosystems. Data were collected from 30 phytoecological relevés and analysed using species richness, density, frequency, importance value index, Shannon-Weaver diversity index, equitability, plant functional traits, and phytogeographic spectra. A total of 34 species belonging to 33 genera and 17 families were recorded. The most represented families were Asteraceae (17.6%), Amaranthaceae (14.7%), Poaceae (14.7%), and Brassicaceae (11.7%).
The flora was dominated by eudicots (80.4%), while monocots represented 19.5%. Therophytes were the dominant life form (95%). Biogeographic analysis showed a predominance of cosmopolitan (48.6%) and Mediterranean (22.8%) species. Anemochory (50.4%) was the main dispersal mode, and C3 species dominated (92.9%). The most damaging weeds with the highest importance values were: Sonchus oleraceus, Anagallis arvensis, and Emex spinosa. The results of this study provide valuable information for developing effective weed management strategies to help improve cereal yield and quality in oasis agro-systems.
Keywords
Biodiversity; Cereal production; Oasis; Weed community; Algeria
Hrčak ID:
346403
URI
Publication date:
30.4.2026.
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