ISSN 2167-0447
International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 9 (8), pp. 001-005, August, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
An invasive alien weed giant sensitive plant (Mimosa diplotricha Sauvalle) invading Southwestern Ethiopia
Mulatu Wakjira
Department of Horticulture and Plant Sciences, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, P. O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia.E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: +251 (0) 471110102. Fax: +251 (0) 471110934.
Accepted 18 March, 2019
Abstract
An assessment was carried out on the highway from Jimma to Addis Ababa in November 2009 to investigate the incidence and distribution of Mimosa diplotricha. This assessment revealed the occurrence of the weed M. diplotricha on the road sides from Jimma to Wolisso town. The roadsides from Beda Buna, near Jimma town, to Assendabo were seriously invaded whereas patches were observed from Asendabo to Wolisso. The farmers indicated that the weed has invaded the area for the last three to five years and confirmed that the spread of the weed was associated with the road construction from Addis Ababa to Jimma and the allied movement of soils and heavy machineries and vehicles. The literature study confirmed that the weed was known in many parts of the world as an invasive weed. In Ethiopia, there are evidences that indicate the presence of the plant in Southwestern Ethiopia for more than 20 years with the name Mimosa invisa. Mechanical, chemical and biological control methods were attempted in different countries with varying degrees of success. An integrated control method with land management practices has been suggested as the most effective. Though some farmers around Jimma started controlling the plant thicket by burning, no other control method was attempted. To this end, a country-wide survey was suggested on distribution and impacts of the weed and investigations on its biology, ecology, mechanisms of invasion success and its management.
Key words: Giant sensitive plant, invasive alien weed, Mimosa diplotricha.