[01] Elham Azizi, Department of Agronomy, Payame Noor University, Iran.

In order to evaluate the weed diversity in crop fields such as corn (Zea mays L.), barley (Hordeum vulgar L.) and Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) in different provinces of Iran, a study was conducted by using data from reports of the Plant Protection Organization, Ministry of Agriculture during 2008. After evaluation of weed species and definition of weed family the species were classified based on functional diversity in four groups such as growth recycling, growth type, photosynthetic pathway and persistence degreebased on effect of yield loss. The results indicated that the number of weed species in corn fields of Iran’s provinces were 31 species that these species belong to 15 different families. The greatest weed diversity was obtained in the provinces of Semnan, Khuzestan and Chaharmahal-o-Bakhtiari with 31 species. Among the provinces, the highest weed similarity index in corn fields (100%) was obtained between Provinces of Chaharmahal-o-Bakhtiari- Semnan and Chaharmahal-o-Bakhtiari- Khuzestan. Thirty- six (36) species from 13 families were found in the fields of barley. The highest species diversity of weeds was observed in Gazvin with 36 species from 13 plant families. The lowest weed diversity was obtained in Zanjan province with 2 species from 2 plant families. Similarity index of different provinces for weeds of barley fields showed that the highest similarity index was observed between the provinces of Zanjan and Lorestan (80%). In sorghum fields of Iran’s provinces, 8 species was observed that belonged to 5 plant families. Also, in these fields, the highest species diversity of weeds was observed in Semnan with 8 weed species belonged to 5 plant families. The highest similarity index for weeds was observed between the provinces of Esfahan- Semnan (77%). The provinces of Boushehr- Semnan with 55% and Boushehr- Esfahan with 50% of similarity were in the second and third places, respectively. In the total studied fields, the greatest number of species was observed in Poaceae family.

Corn, Barley, Sorghum, Similarity Index, Species Diversity

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