A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE KINDS OF WEEDS OF PALM Plantations IN Tabuk AND Al-Qassim Regions IN Saudi Arabia

Abstract

This study was aimed to investigate weeds kind in palm plantations. Date palm is the most chief economic crop in most countries of the Arabian Peninsula. Many factors, such as the presence of weeds, may cause a huge loss in the production of dates. Despite the severe damage caused by the presence of some weeds in agroecosystems, many weeds have many medicinal and economic uses. A total of 62 species were listed in palm Plantations in Tabuk and Al-Qassim Regions. A total of 51 species were listed in Tabuk Region (The number of unique species in the Tabuk Region reached 32 that not recorded in Al-Qassim Region. Also, 19 species were recorded in both of Tabuk and Al-Qassim Regions). A total of 30 weeds were listed in Al-Qassim Region (The number of unique species in the Al-Qassim Region reached 11 that not recorded in the Tabuk Region. In addition to, 19 species were recorded in both of Tabuk and Al-Qassim Regions). Zygophyllaceae was the most common family, the majority life span was annuals and the most common life form was therophyte in both Tabuk and Al-Qassim Regions. Data management and classification were achieved using PCORD (TWINSPAN and DCA analyses)._

Headnote

ABSTRACT

This study was aimed to investigate weeds kind in palm plantations. Date palm is the most chief economic crop in most countries of the Arabian Peninsula. Many factors, such as the presence of weeds, may cause a huge loss in the production of dates. Despite the severe damage caused by the presence of some weeds in agroecosystems, many weeds have many medicinal and economic uses. A total of 62 species were listed in palm Plantations in Tabuk and Al-Qassim Regions. A total of 51 species were listed in Tabuk Region (The number of unique species in the Tabuk Region reached 32 that not recorded in Al-Qassim Region. Also, 19 species were recorded in both of Tabuk and Al-Qassim Regions). A total of 30 weeds were listed in Al-Qassim Region (The number of unique species in the Al-Qassim Region reached 11 that not recorded in the Tabuk Region. In addition to, 19 species were recorded in both of Tabuk and Al-Qassim Regions). Zygophyllaceae was the most common family, the majority life span was annuals and the most common life form was therophyte in both Tabuk and Al-Qassim Regions. Data management and classification were achieved using PCORD (TWINSPAN and DCA analyses)._

Keywords: Economic crops, Production losses, Agroecosystems.

INTRODUCTION

Date palm is one of the most important plants used in traditional medicine, as well as in modern medicine (3). Arab countries are famous for the presence of date palm, especially Saudi Arabia, this country has more than 25 million palm trees. Dates production in Saudi Arabia started more than 10,000 years ago (20, 21). Saudi Arabia ranked third countries that produce dates (37). The presence of weeds may lead to a large loss in the production of dates. Weeds are plants that appear in undesirable locations (61). Weeds are one of the components of agroecosystems. The number of weeds is up to 30,000 species (19). Many weeds caused huge losses in crop yield ranged from 19 % to 56 % (4). Many weeds have allopathic efficiency (46, 62). The presence of weeds leads to the consumption of nutrients, water, and light, which leads to less availability of crops (60). The presences of weeds lead to reduce germination of crop seeds (40). Many factors control the appearance of weeds in agroecosystems, such as crop nature, irrigation methods, climate, humidity availability, soil tillage, as well as the use of fertilizers and herbicides (5, 27, 38). The amount of loss in crop production resulting from the presence of weeds is greater than the amount of loss resulting from the presence of pest (4). Weed control methods include many strategies as seeds selection, adopting modern agriculture methods, and using appropriate and effective herbicides. The use of the hand hoeing weed control method has shown that it is the most effective method in addition to, reducing the harmful effect of using herbicides (22).

Adeux (4), considered weeds are harmful but, not all weeds. Many weeds have medicinal and economic benefits (6, 17, 33). Weeds presence has become a big agriculture problem in the latter two decades in Saudi Arabia (8, 52, 54, 59). Several studies investigated the weed flora of some agroecosystems in many countries as in Chine (36). As well as in Egypt, El-Saied et al., El-Saied and Bedair (34, 32), studied the weed flora in a different area of Egypt. Soliman et al., (58), studied the flora and weed-crop interaction in Egypt. Also, other studies have investigated the weed flora in Saudi Arabia as (1, 50), studied the floristic diversity in the Northern border part of Saudi Arabia. Rayan et al., (54) studied some of agroecosystems in Arar Region. Gazer (39), studied the weed flora in palm orchards in AlQassim Region. Gomaa (41), investigated the diversity of weed in palm and olive orchards in Al-Jouf Region. Others (30), studied the weed flora in Al-Qassim Region. Several researches (10, 11, 12), studied the weed flora in Tabuk Region, Gomaa (42), studied weed in citrus Farms in Al-Jouf Region and author (9), studied the weeds that found in olive and palm orchards in Al-Jouf Region. Several resources (50, 51) studied some species of Plantago and the floristic diversity of Wadi Ar'ar, KSA. Recently, authors (1, 2) studied the plant diversity assessment of Wadi Al-Hilali and the genetic characterization of Genus Tephrosia, Northern Border region, KSA. Many authors studies the weed control and Herbicides, (7) confirmed the integration among cultivars, herbicides, and high crop density to improve the studied characters, (55) used new herbicides (Chevalier WG and Atlantis OD) with low active ingredients in order to reduce environmental issues, as well as control weed plants. (14) concluded that all used herbicides have reduced the weed density and decreased weed dry matter weight in varying proportions depending on the nature of the chemical composition of the herbicide treatment compared with weedy treatment. However, studies and research on weed communities in Saudi Arabia are still insufficient (18). So, this study aims to compare the types of weeds found in date palm farms in the Al-Qassim and Tabuk Regions, Saudi Arabia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study area: Tabuk Region is situated in the northwest of The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with 146,072 km2 total area. Tabuk Region is set between lat. 24° 34' 48" & 29° 59' 30" N. and long. 34° 34' 18" & 39° 59' 5" E. The altitude reaches 768 meters a.s.l. Tabuk bounded by Jordan to the north, Medina to the south, Hail and Al-Jouf Region to the east, Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba to the west. AlQassim is set in the central portion of SaharoArabian floristic area (16). Al-Qassim Region is situated in the central north of KSA with 73,000 km2 total area. Al-Qassim Region is set between lat. 24° 25' & 27° 15' N and long. 41° 30' & 44° 45' E. The altitude reaches 740 meters a.s.l. Al-Qassim bounded by Hail to the north, Riyadh to the south, Eastern Province to the east, Medina to the west. Arc GIS was used to create a map of the studied area. The different species of weeds that present in date palm farms in Tabuk and Al-Qassim Regions in Saudi Arabia are listed in the period from January to July 2019. In Tabuk Region, five stands were chosen (western, central, northern, southern, and eastern Tabuk Region). In each stand, five farms were selected. For each farm, five quadrates were chosen, each quadrate with an area 10·10 = 100 m2. Also, in AlQassim Region, five stands were chosen (western, central, northern, southern, and eastern Al-Qassim Region). In each stand, five farms were selected. For each farm, five quadrates were chosen, each quadrate with an area 10·10 = 100 m2. All weed species in each stand were identified according to (23 -26), (28) and (13). Life forms of weeds were identified after (53) and (43) and the chorology of weeds was identified after (29). PC-ORD program was used to perform statistical analyses; Two Way Indicator Species Analysis (TWINSPAN), as well as Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) (48).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

A total of 62 weeds were listed in palm Farms in Tabuk and Al-Qassim Regions. A total of 51 weeds related to 23 families were listed in Tabuk Region. On the other hand, a total of 30 weed species related to 17 families were listed in Al-Qassim Region. In Tabuk Region, Zygophyllaceae, Asteraceae, and Fabaceae were the most frequent families with eight species, seven species, and five species, respectively. Bothe of Chenopodiacea and Plantaginacae were having four species each. Brssicaceae and Poaceae were having three species each. Caryophyllaceae was having two species. A total of 15 families were having a single species each. In Al-Qassim Region Zygophyllaceae was the most common family with four species. Asteraceae, Chenopodiacea, Plantaginacae, and Poaceae were having three species each. Aizoaceae and Borginaceae were having two species each. On the other hand, ten families were having a single species each (Table 1).

A total of 19 weed were recorded at both Tabuk and Al-Qassim Region (Aizoon canariensis, Anisosciadium lanatum, Launea capitata, Pulicaria undulata, Brassica tournefortii, Chenopodium murale, Haloxylon salicornicum, Malva parviflora, Plantago amplexicaulis, Plantago boissieri, Cynodon dactylon, Schismus barbatus, Polypogon monspeliensis, Emex spinosa, Portulaca oleracea, Oligomeris linifolia, Fagonia glutinosa, Tribulus terrestris and Zygophyllum simplex). A total of 32 weed were listed only in Tabuk Region and did not recorded at AlQassim Region (Atractylis carduus, Ifloga spicata, Senecio glaucus, Sonchus oleraceus, Arnebia hispidissima, Diplotaxis harra, Zilla spinose, Eremobium aegyptiacum, Paronychia arabica, Cleome amblyocarpa, Bassia muricata, Salsola imbricate, Traganum nudatum, Convolvulus arvensis, Citrullus colocynthis, Euphorbia granulate, Astragalus tribuloides, Astragalus hauarensis, Astragalus spinosus, Medicago laciniata, Monsonia nivea, Gisekia pharnaceoides, Neurada procumbens, Plantago ciliate, Plantago lanceolata, Reseda decursiva, Forsskalea tenacissima, Fagonia arabica, Fagonia bruguieri, Fagonia mollis, Fagonia indica and Seetzenia lanata). A total of 11 species were recorded only in Al-Qassim Region and not recorded in Tabuk Region (Amaranthus albus, Zaleya pentandra, Picris abyssinica, Heliotropium aegyptiacum, Heliotropium bacciferum, Spergula fallax, Sueda vermiculata, Trigonella stellate, Asphodellus fisulosus, Plantago ovate and Zygophyllum coccineum). The majority life span was annuals with 30 and 20 species in Tabuk and Al-Qassim Region, respectively. While, perennials species were represented by 21 and 10 species at Tabuk and Al-Qassim Region, respectively (Tables 1, 2)

Therophyte the most common life form were recorded in Tabuk and Al-Qassim Region with 30 and 20 species, respectively. Chamaephytes were represented by 12 species at Tabuk and 6 species in Al-Qassim. Hemicryptophyte was represented by 5 species at Tabuk and 2 species in Al-Qassim. Geophytes were represented by 3 species at Tabuk and 2 species at Al-Qassim. Phanerophyte was represented by a single species at Tabuk (Salsola imbricata) (Tables 1, 3).

According to phytogeographical point, the recorded weeds were categorized into pluriregional, biregional, or monoregional. In Tabuk Region 14 species belonging to monoregional were recorded. Biregional and pluriregional were represented by 21 and 7 species. In Al-Qassim Region 7 species related to monoregional were listed. While, biregional and pluriregional were represented by 13 and 4 species, respectively (Tables 1, 4).

In Tabuk Region, Saharo-Sindian phytochoria were represented by 11 species, SaharoSindian-Irano-Turanian phytochoria were having 10 species, Sudano-ZambesianSaharo-Sindian phytochoria was represented by 9 species, Cosmopolitan and SaharoSindian-Mediterranean-Irano-Turanian phytochoria were having 4 species each, pantropical species was having 3 species, Saharo-Sindian-Mediterranean phytochoria was having 2 species. Mediterranean, EuroSiberian Irano-Turanian-Sudano-Zambesian, Irano-Turanian-Saharo-Sindian-SudanoZambesian, Mediterranean-Irano-TuranianEuro-Siberian-Saharo-Sindian, palaeotropical, Sudano-Zambesian, tropical and Irano-Turanian regions were having a single species each (Tables 1, 4). In AlQassim Region, Saharo-Sindian-SudanoZambesian region was having 6 species, Irano-Turanian-Saharo-Sindian region was having 5 species, Saharo-Sindian and pantropical regions having 3 species each, cosmopolitan, Mediterranean-IranoTuranian-Saharo-Sindian, MediterraneanSaharo-Sindian and Sudano-Zambesian regions were having 2 species each, EuroSiberian-Irano-Turanian-Saharo-Sindian, Mediterranean, tropical, American and Sudano-Zambesian-Mediterranean-SaharoSindianregions were having a single species each (Tables 1, 4). TWINSPAN analysis was divided the studied stands into two groups at the first level. The first group (negative group) includes six stands (central Tabuk, central AlQassim, northern Al-Qassim, southern AlQassim, eastern Al-Qassim, and western AlQassim). On the other hand, the second group (positive group) includes four stands (northern Tabuk, southern Tabuk, eastern Tabuk, and western Tabuk) and the indicator species for this group is Zilla spinose. At the second level negative group was divided into two groups. The first group includes two stands (central Al-Qassim and southern Al-Qassim), while the second group includes four stands (central Tabuk, northern Al-Qassim, eastern AlQassim, and western Al-Qassim) and the indicator species for this group is Anisosciadium lanatum. The positive group was divided into two groups. The first group includes three stands (northern Tabuk, southern Tabuk, and western Tabuk) and the second group includes a single stand (eastern Tabuk) the indicator species for this group is Arnebia hispidissima. DCA analysis explained that the studied stands were separated into two main groups. The first group includes Tabuk stands and it has many distinct plant species as Fagonia bruguieri, Astragalus spinosus, Ifloga spicata, Diplotaxis harra, Seetzenia lanata, Eremobium aegyptiacum, Arnebia hispidissima, Plantago ciliate, Fagonia indica, Sonchus oleraceus, Paronychia arabica, Citrullus colocynthis, Neurada procumbens, Salsola imbricate, Fagonia arabica, Zygophyllum simplex, Launea capitata, Chenopodium murale, Zilla spinose, Atractylis carduus, Gisekia pharnaceoides, Medicago laciniata, Senecio glaucus, Monsonia nivea, Convolvulus arvensis, Bassia muricata, Reseda decursiva, Fagonia glutinosa, Cleome amblyocarpa and Astragalus hauarensis. On the other hand, the second group includes Al-Qassim stands and it has many distinct plant species as Asphodellus fisulosus, Haloxylon salicornicum, Zygophyllum coccineum, Brassica tournefortii, Trigonella stellate and Plantago boissieri. A total of 62 weeds were recorded in palm plantations in Al-Qassim and Tabuk Regions. A total of 51 species related to 23 families were listed in Tabuk Region. A total of 30 species related to 17 families were listed in AlQassim Region. Zygophyllaceae and Asteraceae were the most common families in Tabuk and Al-Qassim Regions. These results correspond to (10), who has counted weeds in olive orchards in Tabuk Region. On the other hand, Poaceae was the most common family in palm and olive farms in Al-Jouf Region, Saudi Arabia (9, 42). The numbers of weeds were listed in palm plantations in this research (51 species) is greater than the number of species were listed in olive plantations in the same region (10). On the other hand, a total of 30 species related to 17 families were listed in AlQassim Region. The weed flora in Saudi Arabia as (1, 50), studied the floristic diversity in the Northern border part of Saudi Arabia. Rayan et al., (54) studied some of agroecosystems in Arar Region. (39), was recorded 55 weed species in the palm farms of central of KSA. (41), was recorded 71 weed species in olive and palm plantations in AlJouf Region, Saudi Arabia. Gomaa (42) was recorded 33 weed species in citrus plantations in Al-Jouf Region, KSA. Alhaithloul (9), was recorded 53 weed species in palm and olive plantations in Al-Jouf Region, KSA. It should be listed that the diversity of weeds is less in the fields that are tilled annually (47). Excessive use of herbicides determines the diversity, as well as the abundance of weeds within agroecosystems (57). Also, the excessive use of herbicides causes the appearance of weeds that are more resistant to herbicides (45). The majority life span was annuals and the most common life form was therophytes in palm farms in both Tabuk and Al-Qassim Regions. This result is consistent with (9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 30, 31, 41, 42,49), who studied the floristic composition in many Regions of KSA. In addition to, the dominance of therophytes in different arable lands was documented in other previous studies (50, 57) and could be credited to the small life cycles that permit them to survive with the unstable environments of the agroecosystems habitats (35). As well as, therophytes give more of its resources to build the reproductive structures (44). Also, therophytes form flowers early in their life cycle (56). Also, therophytes can formation the seeds without having to a visiting pollinator (21). On the other hand, the majority life span was perennials with 29 species, while annuals species were represented by 26 in date palm plantations in the Central Region of KSA (34). TWINSPAN and DCA analyses showed the studied stands were divided into environmentally similar groups based on the indicator species for Tabuk Al-Qassim Regions.

CONCLUSIONS

A total of 62 weeds were listed in palm plantations in Al-Qassim and Tabuk Regions. A total of 51 weeds related to 23 families were listed in Tabuk Region. On the other hand, a total of 30 species related to 17 families were listed in Al-Qassim Region. A total of 19 species were recorded in both Tabuk and AlQassim Region. A total of 32 species were listed only in Tabuk Region and not recorded in Al-Qassim Region. A total of 11 species were listed only in Al-Qassim Region and not recorded in Tabuk Region. The most common life span was annuals and therophyte the most common life form in palm farms in Tabuk and Al-Qassim Regions. TWINSPAN and DCA analyses were used to divide the studied stands into groups depending on the indicator species for each group. The necessity of surveying weeds in farms in various regions, identifying harmful weed species, and using appropriate strategies to control these weeds. The uses of useful weed species in many medicinal and economic fields.

Sidebar

Received:23/4/2020, Accepted:8/7/2020

References

REFERENCES

1. Abdein M.A. and A.K.E. Osman 2020. Plant diversity assessment of Wadi AlHilali, Northern Border Region, Saudi Arabia. International Journal of Botany Studies. (5) 2: 87-95

2. Abdein M.A., H.W. Nassr and A.K.E. Osman, 2020. Genetic characterization of Genus Tephrosia Pers. based on Molecular markers in KSA. International Journal of Botany Studies. (5) 2: 203-209

3. Abu-Reidah, I. M., Á. Gil-Izquierdo, S., Medina and F. Ferreres, 2017. Phenolic composition profiling of different edible parts and by-products of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) by using HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS n. Food Research International. 100(3): 494500

4. Adeux, G., E. Vieren, S. Carlesi, P. Barberi, N. Munier-Jolain, and S. Cordeau 2019. Mitigating crop yield losses through weed diversity. Nature Sustainability, 2(11): 10181026

5. Ahmad Z, S.M. Khan, E.F. Abd Allah, A.A. Alqarawi and A. Hashem 2016. Weed species composition and distribution pattern in the maize crop under the influence of edaphic factors and farming practices: A case study from Mardan, Pakistan. Saudi J. Biol. Sci. 23: 741-748

6. Al Zandi, A., A.W. Al-Khulaidi and N.A. Al-Sagheer 2019. Environmental distribution of medicinal plants in Al-Baha region, Saudi Arabia. Life Science Journal, 16(9):95-102

7. Al-Chalabi, F.T. and W.F. Hammood 2016. Response of growth analysis parameters of some cotton cultivars to integrated weed management. Iraqi Journal of Agricultural Science, 47 (1): 197-207

8. Algandaby, M.M. and M. Salama . 2018. Management of the noxious weed; Medicago polymorpha L. via allelopathy of some medicinal plants from Taif region, Saudi Arabia. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 25(7), pp.1339-1347

9. Alhaithloul, H. A. S. 2019. Prevalence study of weeds in some economic orchards trees. Asian J Agric and Biol. 7(4):512-518

10. Al-Harbi, N.A. 2017 b. Diversity of medicinal plants used in the treatment of skin diseases in Tabuk region, Saudi Arabia. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research. 11(35): 549-555. DOI: 10.5897/JMPR2017.6438

11. Al-Harbi, N.A. 2017 c. Survey of plant species of medical importance to treat digestive tract diseases in Tabuk Region, Saudi Arabia. Journal of King Abdulaziz University. 29 (1): 51-61. DOI:10.4197/Sci.29-1.6

12. Al-Harbi, N.A. 2017a. Diversity and taxonomic composition of weeds in olive orchards in Tabuk Region, Saudi Arabia. Arid Ecosystems, 7(3): 203-208

13. Al-Hassan, H. O. 2006. Wild Plants of the Northern Region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (field guide with photographs). Ministry of Agriculture, Camel and Range Research Center, Al-Jouf, Saudi Arabia. pp. 264

14. Al-Khazali, A.J. and R.K. Shati 2016. Effect of some new herbicides on the competition ability to seven maize cultivars ( Zea mays L. ) on the weed accompanying. The Iraqi Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 47(1): 425-437

15. Al-Mutairi, K., S. Al-Shami, Z. Khorshid and M. Moawed 2016. Floristic diversity of Tabuk Province, North Saudi Arabia. The Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, 26(4): 1019-1025

16. Al-Nafie, A.H. 2008. Phytogeography of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 15(1): 159-176

17. Al-Wahaibi, L.H., A. Mahmood, M. Khan and H.Z. Alkhathlan 2020. Phytochemical analysis and bioactivity screening of three medicinal plants of Saudi Arabia. Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 19(2): 371-376

18. Al-Yemeni, M. and H. Sher 2010. Biological spectrum with some other ecological attributes of the flora and vegetation of the Asir Mountain of South West, Saudi Arabia. Afr. J. Biotechnol. 9(34): 5550-5559

19. Anonymous, 2010. Union budget and economic survey. Ministry of Finance, Government of India, New Delhi, India. http//:indiabudget.nic.in

20. Assirey, E. A. R. 2015. Nutritional composition of fruit of 10 date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cultivars grown in Saudi Arabia. Journal of Taibah University for science, 9(1): 75-79

21. Baker, H.G. 1974. The evolution of weeds. Annu. Rev. Ecol. Evol. Syst. 5: 1-24

22. Bhutto, T. A., S.A. Wahoocho, M. Buriro, G.A. Qola, N.A. Wahoocho, M.A. Ansari, I. Majeedano, M.N. Kandhro, M.H. Soomro, S. Kumbhar and N.A. Buledi 2019. Control of different weeds through various weed control methods for improving growth and yield of hybrid maize Pioneer-1543. Pure and Applied Biology (PAB), 8(1):718-726

23. Boulos L. 2000. Flora of Egypt. Vol. II (Geraniaceae-Boragina ceae). Cairo: A1Hadara Publishing. pp: 352

24. Boulos L. 2002. Flora of Egypt. Vol. III (Verbenaceae-Asteraceae). Cairo: A1-Hadara Publishing. pp: 373

25. Boulos L. 2005. Flora of Egypt. Vol. IV Monocotyledons (Alis mataceae-Orchidaceae). Cairo: A1-Hadara Publishing. pp: 617

26. Boulos L. 2009. Flora of Egypt checklist (revised annotated ed.). Cairo: Al-Hadara Publishing. pp: 410

27. Brand, J., N. Yaduraju, B. Shivakumar and L. McMurray 2007. Weed management. Lentil: An ancient crop for modern times.Springer, Dordrecht, the Netherlands, pp 159172

28. Chaudhary, S. A. 2001. Flora of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh: Minist. Agric. Water. pp: 342-354

29. Eig, A. 1931. Les elements et les groups phytogeogra-phique auxiliaries dans la florepalestiniene. Feddes Repert. 63:470-496

30. El-Ghazali, E.B. and A.A. Alsoqeer 2013. A checklist of the weed flora of Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia. Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 7(2):900-905

31. El-Ghazali, G.E., A.R.A. Al-Soqeer and G.E. El Tayeb 2013. Floristic and ecological studies on the plant cover of Wadi Al Rummah, Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia. International Research Journal of Plant Science, 4: 310-318

32. El-Saied, A. and R. Bedair 2018. Evaluation of changes in weed flora in response to agricultural practices in the Arable Lands of El-Menoufia Governorate, Nile Delta, Egypt. Taeckholmia 38 (2018): 152-167

33. El-Saied, A. B., O.A. Khafagi, A. Marei, and R. Bedair. 2018. Medicinal and economic plants in El-Menoufia Governorate, Egypt. Egypt. J. Biomed. Sci. Vol. 52, pp.55-73

34. El-Saied, A.B., A. El-Ghamry, O.A. Khafagi, O. Powell and R. Bedair 2015. Floristic diversity and vegetation analysis of Siwa Oasis: An ancient agro-ecosystem in Egypt's Western Desert. Annals of Agricultural Sciences, 60(2): 361-372.

35. El-Sheikh, M.A. 2013. Weed vegetation ecology of arable land in Salalah, Southern Oman. Saudi J. Biol. Sci. 20:291-304

36. Fang, J. and Y. Zhang 2017. Icariin, an anti-atherosclerotic drug from Chinese medicinal herb horny goat weed. Frontiers in pharmacology, 8, p.734

37. FAO, 1997. Yearbook (Production), 50, FAO Statistics, series no. 135,Rome, Italy

38. Fried G, L.R. Norton and X. Reboud 2008. Environmental and management factors determining weed species composition and diversity in France. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 128: 68-76

39. Gazer, M. 2011. Vegetation composition and floristical diversity in date palm orchards of Central Saudi Arabia, Acta Bot. Hung., 53: 111 -126

40. Gomaa, N. H., M.O. Hassan, G. M. Fahmy, L. González, O. Hammouda and A. M. Atteya 2014. Allelopathic potential of Sonchus oleraceus L. on germination and seedling growth of crop and weed species. Acta Bot. Bras. 28:408-416

41. Gomaa, N.H. 2012. Composition and diversity of weed communities in Al-Jouf province, northern Saudi Arabia, Saudi J. Biol. Sci., 19: 369-376

42. Gomaa, N.H. 2017. Floristic composition of weed vegetation in citrus orchards in Aljouf Region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Journal of Bio-Molecular Sciences (JBMS), 5(1): 15-23

43. Govaerts, R., D. G. Frodin, A. RadcliffeSmith. S. and Carter. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae (with Pandaceae). Kew: Royal Botanic Gardens; 2000. pp. 1621

44. Harper, J.L. 1977. Population Biology of Plants. Academic Press, London

45. Heap, I. 2010. The International Survey of Herbicide Resistant Weeds. Online Available on http://www.weedscience.com

46. Jabeen, N. and M. Ahmed 2009. Possible allelopathic effects of three different weeds on germination and growth of maize (Zea mays) cultivars. Pak. J. Bot. 41: 1677-1683

47. Licznar-Małańczuk, M. and I. Sygutowska, 2016. The weed composition in an orchard as a result of long-term foliar herbicide application, Acta Agrobot., (69): pp. 16851695

48. McCune, B. and M.J. Mefford . 1999. PCORD for Windows. Multivariate analysis of ecological data. Version 4.14. User's Guide. MjM Software, Oregon, USA. 47 p

49. Moawed, M. and A. Ansari, 2015. Wild plants diversity of Red Sea coastal region, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. J. Chem. Pharm. Res, 7, pp: 220-227

50. Osman, A.K. and M.A. Abdein 2019 b. Floristic diversity of Wadi Ar'ar, Saudi Arabia. Journal of Taibah University for Science, 13(1): 772-789

51. Osman, A.K. and M.A. Abdein, 2019 a. Karyological and molecular studies between six species of Plantago in the Northern border region at Saudi Arabia. Journal of Taibah University for Science. 13(1): 297-308

52. Parker, C., 1973. Weeds in Arabia. PANS Pest Articles News Summaries, 19: 345-352

53. Raunkiaer, C. 1934. The plant life forms and statistical plant geography. Oxford: Clarendon Press; p. 632

54. Rayan A.M., M.A. Abdein and A.A. Ibrahim 2020. Associated weeds of some agroecosystems in the Northern Border region, KSA. International Journal of Botany Studies. 5 ( 3): 345-351

55. Said, I.A. and D.M.A. Jaff 2020. Evaluation of Chevalier Wg and Atlantis Od herbicides to control weeds in winter wheat fields. Iraqi Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 51(Special Issue):96-100

56. Sans, F.X. and R.M. Masalles 1995. Phenological patterns in an arable land weed community related to disturbance. Weed Res 35: 321-332

57. Sher, H. and M.N. Al-Yemeni 2011. Ecological investigation of the weed flora in arable and non-arable lands of Al-Kharj Area, Saudi Arabia. Afr. J. Agr. Res. 6: 901-906

58. Soliman, M.A., T.M. Galal and A.A. Khalafallah 2020. Egyptian Cereal Crops (Phytosociology and Weed-Crop Interaction). LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing. pp: 154

59. Sulayli, A.I., M.F. Moustafa and E.M. Eid 2019. Genetic variability, antimicrobial activity and natural water-soluble vitamins contents of five Acacia species growing in Jazan region, Saudi Arabia. Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 56(1):289-300

60. Wang S, L. J. Duan, X. Li, Tian and Z. Li 2007. UV-B radiation increases paraquat tolerance of two broad-leaved and two grass weeds in relation to changes in herbicide absorption and photosynthesis. Weed Res. 47: 122-128

61. Weed Science Society of America, 2020. Terminology committee of Weed Science Society of America, WSSA, USA. November 2020, pp 1-56

62. Weston, L. A. and S.O. Duke 2003. Weed and crop allelopathy. Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences, 22(3-4): 367-389.