Weeds diversity in oil palm plantation at Segamat, Johor

Abstract

This research was conducted to study weeds composition and diversity with regards to management practices at three oil palm plantations in Segamat, Johor. Using nested quadrat sampling approach, a total of 19 families, 35 genera, 43 species and 4465 number of individuals of weeds species were found and recorded from the three plantations. The Shannon diversity index, H' was 3.45 whereas the Evenness index, EH for the overall weeds species was 0.92. The highest weed diversity was observed at Kg. Sri Rahmat oil palm plantation (H'=3.11) located at the lowest elevation with the least herbicide application and pruning practices followed by Kg. Logah (H'=3.07) and Felda Medoi (H'=2.83). The overall species evenness for this study area was 0.92 indicating that the species distribution was relatively high in monoculture system. At Kg. Logah, the species evenness was almost totally even (EH=0.98) followed by Kg. Sri Rahmat (EH=0.97) and Felda Medoi (EH=0.93). Both family Poaceae and Rubiaceae contributed to the highest species richness within the study area. Therefore, the composition and diversity of weeds recorded from this research was relatively high. There were several factors that could potentially affect the weeds diversity such as farming system, age oil palm plantation, pruning treatment (canopy), management through usage of herbicide, type and usage of fertilizer and location of oil palm plantation based on different elevations. This study is essential for sustaining oil palm production through successful weed control using diversity data and management histories as an indicator.