STUDY ON PLANT LIFE IN FARMLANDS OF THE ISTHMIC REGION
Creators: name: Mahgoub, Alaa M.M.A.
Publisher: name: figshare
Year: 2023
Subjects: Community ecology (excl. invasive species ecology)

description: <strong>1-</strong> The present study is an ecological survey of plant life in farmlands of the Isthmic desert. It comprises 5 parts. Its aim is to investigate the likely relationships between crops (units of farmed ecosystem) and the weed assemblages associated with them. <strong>2-</strong> Part I: Introduction gives a general description of the surveyed area: soil types, climatic features (arid), Land-use pattern (agriculture). <strong>3-</strong> Part II: General Botanical survey describes plant in 10 sites representing the surveyed area. The survey depends on monthly records of plants in 4 localities of each site. These records of plants and their phenological performance allowed for: (a) their classification into: winter, summer and all-the-year plants; (b) an assessment of their ecological success as indicated by their distribution in the sites. <strong>4-</strong> Part III: Weed Assemblages in Various crops, describes the weed assemblages in five winter crops (clover, wheat, broad bean, tomato and flax) and six summer crops (maize, cotton, peanut, water melon, sweet melon and rice). Phenological performance and ecological success of species within fields of each crop are monitored throughout 1981 – 1983. These records allow comparison of performance in various years as related to variability of ecological conditions. The distinction between winter weeds and summer weeds is fairly clear; the all-the-year weeds are either perennial species or annuals that regenerate in both seasons. <strong>5-</strong> Part IV: Discussion, summarizes the records of part III and examines the sociological ranges of the 233 species recorded. This shows that: 5 species are recorded in all 11 assemblages. 6 species are recorded in 10 assemblages. 4 species are recorded in 9 assemblages. 3 species are recorded in 8 assemblages. 9 species are recorded in 7 assemblages. 6 species are recorded in 6 assemblages. 41 species are recorded in 5 assemblages. 42 species are recorded in 4 assemblages. 35 species are recorded in 3 assemblages. 23 species are recorded in 2 assemblages. 59 species are recorded in 1 assemblage. This pattern relates to: the crop rotation that separates the summer crops from the winter crops, and explains the high number of species recorded in 5 assemblages (41) and in 4 assemblages (42). It also shows that species vary in their sociological range. This range may indicate ecological responses (soil type, farming practices, irrigation pattern) or biotic responces (type of crop and its growth form). An attempt is made to examine the syntaxonomy of the these weed assemblages. The concept of quotient of similarity is used. This attempt shows that weed assemblages of rice fields represent a special entity (very special ecology due to flooded fields). For assemblages of the other 10 crops their syntaxonomy seem to indicate relationship with season (position of crop in the crop-rotation), type of soil (clay or sand). <strong>6-</strong> Part V: Floristic features deals with the flora of the surveyed area and its general features.