DEPARTMENT OF AGRONOMY

FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE
FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF LAFIA
LAFIA

AGN 322: PRINCIPLES OF CROP PROTECTION1

3. EFFECT OF WEEDS ON CROPS AND LIVESTOCK

Weeds can have various negative effects on crops and livestock.

3.1 Competition for Resources

Weeds compete with crops for essential resources such as water, nutrients, and sunlight. This
competition can negatively impact crop yields and quality, leading to lower yields and reduced
crop qualities.

3.2 Hosts for Pests and Pathogens

Weeds can serve as hosts for pests and disease pathogens that can also affect crops and livestock.
They can act as reservoirs for pathogens and insects, increasing the risk of infestations. Some
weeds also act as hosts to beneficial insects and provide nectar for bees that are important in crop
pollination.

Examples of weeds that serve as hosts for crop pests and diseases include:
a) Acalypha ciliate, Sida vernocaefolia and Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) act as
alternate hosts to root-knot nematodes which are soil-dwelling pests that damages the roots
of many crop plants.
b) Some weeds harbour polyphagous, variegated grasshopper or Zonocerus variegatus.
c) Common Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) can host aphids, which are known vectors for
various plant viruses.
d) Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) can host the fungus Puccinia spp., which causes rust
diseases in various plants, including wheat and barley.
e) Lambsquarters (Chenopodium album) can host Colorado potato beetles, which are
significant pests for potato crops.

3.3 Chemical interactions

Some weeds produce toxic substances in the root region which can inhibit the germination of other
plants. This phenomenon is called allelopathy, e.g., Cyperus rotundus produces substances that
can inhibit germination of seeds around it. California thistle produces chemicals that inhibit
germination of other seeds. This causes poor establishment of crop and high weed competition
with the crop.

3.4 Parasitic weeds

Parasitic weeds depend on crop plants for their food materials. For example, dodder establishes a
weak root system in the soil at first, and losses the roots when fully established on the host. New

1
Instructors: Professor MU Ukwela, Professor (Chief) AD Akpa fasi, fnspp, ksm, cik & A. Kayode.
roots, called haustoria are developed, and with which dodder taps food from the host. Dodder
develops a massive network of stem around the host. Striga is another parasitic weed with weak
root system before it develops haustoria with which it establishes parasitic relationship on the host
crops. It taps food from the host plants with the haustoria hence making the plant weak and
unproductive. Striga hermonthica is also known as witchweed is parasitic on sorghum and maize
in Africa, India and parts of United States.

3.5 Reduced Crop Quality

Weeds can contaminate harvested crops, reducing their quality and market value. The seeds of
weeds contaminate crop seeds at harvest. Weeds can reduce the quality of harvested products in
the following ways:

a) Weed seeds in harvested grains lower market value of grains.

b) Green plant parts in dry seeds can interfere with the wholesomeness of such seeds in
storage and consequently lower their quality making them less desirable for sale.
c) The presence of poisonous, unpalatable or even low-quality plants in forages can reduce
the quality of such forages with the attendant adverse effects on the animals that graze on
them.

3.6 Livestock Health Issues

Livestock health issues caused by weeds can vary depending on the type of weed and the livestock
species involved. Some weeds are toxic to livestock when consumed. Ingesting poisonous weeds
can lead to health problems, reduced weight gain, abortions, birth defects or even death in animals.
Examples are outlined below:
a) Toxicity: Some weeds are poisonous and can kill livestock or produce allergic substances
that affect both man and livestock when ingested. For instance, Halogeton glomeratus,
certain species of thistle, ragwort, or black night shade are poisonous to cattle, sheep, and
horses. Mucuna utilis and Fleurya aestuans produce itchy spines that affects man hence
field can be abandoned in case of severe infestation by these weeds.
b) Digestive problems: Some weeds may irritate the digestive tract of livestock, leading to
issues like colic in horses or bloat in cattle. Examples include burdock or certain types of
clover.
c) Reduced nutrient intake: Weeds with low nutritional value can displace more nutritious
forage, leading to poor weight gain and malnutrition in livestock.
d) Skin irritation: Contact with certain weeds can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions
in livestock, resulting in discomfort and potential secondary infections.
e) Respiratory issues: Dust and allergens from some weed species can contribute to
respiratory problems in livestock, especially in confined spaces like barns.
f) Reproductive Problems: Some weeds contain compounds that can disrupt the reproductive
systems of livestock, leading to issues with fertility and reproduction.
g) Parasite habitat: Weeds can serve as habitat for parasites like ticks or mites, which can
then infest livestock and cause health problems.
h) Injuries: Weeds with thorns or spines can cause physical injuries to livestock, particularly
when animals graze in areas with dense weed growth.

It's important for livestock owners to identify and manage weeds in their pastures and forage areas

Page 2 of 3
to prevent these health issues. Proper pasture management practices and regular monitoring can
help mitigate the impact of weeds on livestock health.

3.7 Habitat for Invasive Species

Weeds can create a favourable habitat for invasive species that harm both crops and livestock.
Weeds harbour rodents, birds etc., which feed on the crops, thus contributing to crop yield losses.
They can provide food, protection and habitats for several vectors of human disease e.g., Pistia
stratuites and Salvilia auriculata for mosquitoes.

3.8 Harvesting and Handling Challenges

Weeds can complicate the harvesting process by getting tangled with crops or impeding
machinery. Weeds can affect mechanical harvesting using combine harvester. Weeds being green
can clog the cutting edges of the machine thereby retarding field operations. This can increase
labour costs and time.

3.9 Weed Control Costs

Managing weeds through herbicides, manual labour, or other methods can be costly for farmers,
affecting their overall profitability. The price of seeds depends on the degree of purity, hence the
more the weed seeds in crop seed lot, the lower the price of agricultural seeds. For example, in a
paddy rice production, presence of Oryza barthii reduces the quality of Oryza sativa. The presence
of striga reduces sugar cane juice quality. Nutsedge and wild garlic in pasture field reduce the
pasture quality (palatable, nutritional quality, etc.). Efficient weed control practices are essential
to mitigate these negative effects and ensure the health and productivity of both crops and
livestock.

3.10 Indirect effects of weeds

Other effects of weeds include clogging of drainage canals; weedy plantation of permanent crops
can face severe devastation in case of fire outbreak; erosion control/ soil conservation; addition of
organic matter to the soil; recycling of nutrients; food for humans and as a source of genetic
materials for varietal development.

Page 3 of 3