Floods bring new weed threat to Punjab fields, PAU begins identification

Ludhiana: The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, has expressed concern over the emergence of unfamiliar weeds in wheat and mustard fields across Punjab, attributing the problem to floodwaters that flowed into the state from neighbouring Himachal Pradesh during the last monsoon season.Speaking about the issue, vice-chancellor Dr Satbir Singh Gosal said the floods originating in the hilly regions carried large quantities of silt, sand and debris into Punjab's agricultural fields. Along with the sediment, seeds of several weeds were also transported into the state.He said while agricultural lands in the hills also have crops, the uncultivated areas are covered with wild weeds. When floodwaters flowed downstream, these weed seeds travelled with the water and eventually got deposited in Punjab's fields."We have been receiving feedback from the Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) that this year farmers are observing a large number of weeds in wheat and mustard crops that have not been seen earlier in Punjab," Gosal said.According to him, weeds can pose a serious threat to agricultural productivity as they compete with crops for nutrients, water and sunlight, leading to a decline in yields.Gosal specifically referred to ‘gulli danda' (Phalaris minor) as one of the most problematic weeds in wheat cultivation. The weed closely resembles wheat during the early stages of growth, making it difficult for farmers to identify and remove it manually. As it grows, it competes aggressively with wheat plants for nutrients, moisture and sunlight, which can significantly reduce crop yields.He said ‘gulli danda' has become particularly problematic because it has developed resistance to several commonly used herbicides over the years. As a result, traditional weed control methods often fail to eliminate it completely, allowing it to spread rapidly across fields.The vice-chancellor said the sudden appearance of unfamiliar weeds has raised concerns among agricultural scientists. "We are worried that some of the new weed varieties that may have arrived with the floods could turn out to be equally problematic," he added.To tackle the issue, scientists at Punjab Agricultural University have begun a systematic process of identifying these weeds and a team of experts has been constituted for the purpose. "First we will identify and document the weeds that were not previously present in Punjab's fields. After that, we will develop suitable weed management strategies, including the use of herbicides and other weed control measures," Dr Gosal said.He said even though the states are contiguous, floodwaters do not always follow a straight path into crop fields. However, due to floods, sand and silt deposited by the water have carried weed seeds far and wide in the agricultural land," he said.He stressed the need for urgent action to ensure that any invasive weeds do not establish themselves in cropping systems in Punjab. "Proper steps need to be taken to prevent their recurrence in future seasons to prevent problems for farmers," he said.