CULTIVATION

This study examines the influence of maize cultivation on weed diversity and abundance in a ferruginous soil. A potted experiment was conducted to assess the effects of varying maize densities and soil iron amendments on weed population dynamics. The results indicate that increasing maize density significantly reduces weed population through competition for essential resources such as light, water, and nutrients. Conversely, soil iron amendments had a dual effect, with lower iron concentrations suppressing weed growth and higher concentrations favoring the proliferation of iron-tolerant species. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed statistically significant differences in weed populations across the different treatments (F = 7.99, p = 0.00117 for maize density; F = 6.27, p = 0.0169 for iron amendments), confirming the substantial impact of these factors. These findings align with previous research on crop competition and nutrient-mediated weed dynamics. The study highlights the importance of optimizing maize density and soil nutrient levels as an integrated weed management strategy.