WEED FLORA OF Curcuma longa FIELDS OF DISTRICT KASUR, PAKISTAN

District Kasur, Punjab, Pakistan shares more than 80% of turmeric production. Survey of fields from twenty six localities of the district were undertaken during two successive years to study the distribution of weed species in turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) fields. A total of fourteen weed species belonging to 8 angiosperm families, were recorded in the fields of turmeric. Sonchus aspera L., Chenopodium album L., Rumex dentatus L., Ageratum conyzoides L. Convolvulus arvensis L., Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., Oxalis corniculata L., Malva parviflora L., Malvastrum coromandelianum L., Trifolium resupinatum L., Euphorbia prostarta L. and Phalaris minor Retz., were found to be the most prevalent weed speciesoccurring in 90% or more studied areas during one or the other growing season. The frequently occurring weeds with absolute frequency of above 80% were C. album L., M. cromandlianumL. and C. dactylon. Other densely populated weed species with higher absolute density were A. conyzoides, C. arvensis, E. prostrata and C. dactylon. The study highlighted the need to manage weed in order to realize higher turmeric yields.