CPRT 41A Laboratory Exercise 1.

0
Weed Collection and Identification
Introduction
In any crop production venture, weeds are a problem. They are plants growing in an area
where they are not desired. Some may be beneficial to man in one way or another, but most
are harmful. Harmful because they compete with the crop for resources such as nutrients,
water and sunlight – the basic requirements for plant growth.

Just like any group of organisms/individuals, weeds are very diverse. They differ in many
aspects such as morphology, habitat, adaptation, lifespan, etc., and proper weed
identification is important to a successful weed management strategy/program. It should be
realized that the most important requisite in any weed control is proper weed identification.

Based on gross morphology, weeds can be classified as grasses, sedges and broadleaves.
Grasses have narrow elongated leaves with parallel veTerenation; roots that are fibrous; and
rounded stems with distinct nodes and internodes. Sedges, like grasses, have narrow
elongated leaves with parallel venation; the roots are also fibrous; but the stems are
triangular. Broadleaves include all the weeds that are not grasses or sedges. Their leaves
are broad and most of them have a taproot system. A number have woody stems, while
many have herbaceous stems. Based on habitat, they can either be terrestrial or aquatic.
Terrestrial weeds grow and complete their life cycle in dry or wet soil, but not flooded.
Aquatic weeds are those that thrive well in very wet soils or flooded areas. Based on
lifespan, they can be generally classified as annuals or perennials. They can also be
grouped according to the family to which they belong (e.g., Graminae, Cyperaceae,
Asteraceae, etc.). Based on adaptation, weeds can be temperate, sub-tropical, tropical or
arid.

https://shop.bamertseed.com/products/bermuda-grass http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:305797-1 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bidens_pilosa_100301-0233_tdp.jpg

(A) (B) (C)

Cynodon dactylon Cyperus rotundus Bidens pilosa

Figure 1.0. A representative of a grass (A), a sedge (B) and a broadleaf (C) weed
species.

The naming of weeds, or any plant for that matter, is of three ways: (1) the common name;
(2) the local name; and (3) the scientific name. The common name is usually the English
name of the weed and is probably the most accepted name of the weed worldwide aside
from its scientific name. the local name, on the other hand, is the name given by the local
community or the tribe or the region, and therefore varies from place to place. The scientific
 Laboratory Exercise 1.0 – Weed Collection and Identification

name is based on the Binomial System of Nomenclature which dictates that scientific names
should have the generic name (genus) and the specific name (species). Scientific names are
in Latin.

Objectives
At the end of the exercise, the students are expected to:

1. identify common weeds by their scientific, common and local names;

2. identify the common weeds associated with certain crops
3. classify the weeds based on:
a. gross morphology
b. habitat
c. lifespan
d. etc.
4. prepare a collage of the common weeds.

Methodology
A. Collection and Identification
1. Visit any crop area (e.g., lowland rice, corn, legumes, vegetables, fruit trees, etc.)
near your vicinity or surroundings, including uncropped/abandoned areas. Take
note of the weeds that are common in each crop area visited. Observe basic
safety protocols at all times (Wear facemasks and face shield, observe 1.5m
physical distancing, disinfect, etc.) in performing this laboratory activity.
2. Collect 15 weed samples (five grasses, five sedges and five broadleaves) and
group them according to their morphological classification. Examine each of the
samples collected. Using the data sheet for this exercise, identify the weeds
(scientific name) and classify them based on gross morphology, habitat and
lifespan, etc. It is also important to know the family where they belong. A brief
morphological description of each of the weeds will be useful for easy
identification. For weeds whose scientific names cannot be accurately
determined, a description of their identifying characteristics should be made.
3. Prepare a compendium of weed species composed of five grasses, five sedges
and five broadleaves. For each weed, provide the following information:
a. scientific name
b. common name
c. local name
d. family name
e. date and place collected
f. name of the collector
g. good photo documentation (grabbing photos from the internet is strictly
prohibited)
4. You may download the following apps below at Play Store (for android
smartphone users) or App Store (for iPhone users) to help you identify those
weeds that are unfamiliar to you:

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 Laboratory Exercise 1.0 – Weed Collection and Identification

eDamuhan (for lowland weeds) Plant Net (for upland weeds)

5. For further enhancement of your compendium, sign up and try using Canva app
(www.canva.com/education) or any editing apps you know.
6. Save your data sheet and compendium of weeds using these suggested filename
formats:

For the data sheets:

CPRT41A LE1_Section Code_Your Name

e.g., CPRT 41A LE1_BSA1F_Dela Cruz, Juan M.

For the compendium of weed species:

CPRT41A CWS_Section Code_Your Name

e.g., CPRT 41A CWS_BSA1F_Dela Cruz, Juan M.

7. Submit by attaching it in this assigned class work and click TURN IN. Deadline of
submission: October 30, 2021

Figure 2.0. Format of the label for each weed specimen

B. Reporting
1. Each student will be assigned to report orally in the class at least three weed
species. Pre-recorded reports should be prepared in case of problems in the
internet signal.
2. The report shall include the following:
a. The scientific name, common names and local names of each weed
species;
b. The family to which the weed belongs;
c. A description of the weed species
d. Photograph of weed species
3. Oral reports without a weed specimen will not be accepted

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 Laboratory Exercise 1.0 – Weed Collection and Identification

Suggested References:
 Ampong-Nyarko, K. and S.K. de Datta. 1991. Handbook of Weed Control in Rice.
IRRI. 113p
 Balasubramaniyan, P. and S.P. Palaniappan. 2007. Principles and Practices of
Agronomy, 2nd ed. Agrobios. 576p
 Caton, B.P., M. Mortimer and J.E. Hill. 2004. A Practical Field Guide to Weeds of
Rice in Asia. IRRI. 116p.
 Detalla, M.E.B. 2010. Agronomy 22: Weeds and Their Control. Central Mindanao
University, Musuan, Bukidnon. 60p
 Galinato, M.I., K. Moody and C.M. Piggin. 1999. Upland Rice Weeds of South and
Southeast Asia. IRRI. 156p
 Moody, K., C.E. Munroe, R. T. Lubigan and E.C. Paller. 1984. Major Weeds of the
Philippines. WSSP-UPLB. 328p.
 Pancho, J.V. and S.R. Obien. 1995. Manual of Ricefield Weeds in the Philippines.
PhilRice. 543p.
 Rao, V.S. 2000. Principles of Weed Science, 2nd ed. Science Publishers, Inc. 555p.
 Reissig, W.H., E.A. Heinrichs, J.S. Litsinger, K. Moody, L. Fielder, T.W. Mew and
A.T. Barrion. 1986. Illustrated Guide to Integrated Pest Management in Tropical Asia.
411p.
 Zimdahl, R.L., R.T. Lubigan, K. Moody and M.O. Mabbayad. 1989. Seeds and
Seedlings of Weeds in Rice in South and Southeast Asia. IRRI. 63p

Online Websites:
 http://weeds.cropsci.illinois.edu/weedid.htm
 http://ipm.ppws.vt.edu/weedindex.htm
 http://www.wssa.net/Weeds/ID/index.htm
 http://www.weedscience.com
 http://weedid.aces.uiuc.edu

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