Weed Communities in Ecuadorian Cacao: Diversity, Abundance and Ecological Functions for Bioremediation Strategies and Sustainable Management of Tropical Agricultural Soils
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.28940/terra.latinam..v44i.2499Keywords:
Jaccard coef ficient, reproductive dynamics, importance value index (IVI), morphotypes, Bray-Curtis similarityAbstract
Ecuador ranks fourth worldwide in cocoa production and first as the leading producer of fine-flavor cocoa. In this context, weeds—plants without economic value in agronomic systems—af fect crop productivity and development, making them one of the most important constraints in agricultural production. The objective of this research was to identify the weed community associated with cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) cultivation by evaluating the diversity and abundance of weed species in three localities of the Ecuadorian tropics: Quevedo, Buena Fe, and Valencia. Analysis of weed biological diversity at the family and locality levels showed that the families Caryophyllaceae, Fabaceae, and Cucurbitaceae exhibited high values across dif ferent diversity indices. At the locality level, Buena Fe showed greater diversity according to the Individual Index, whereas Valencia stood out according to the Simpson (1–D), Shannon (H′), and Equitability (J) indices. Similarities among localities, evaluated using Jaccard and Bray–Curtis coef ficients, revealed patterns of resemblance and dif ferentiation in weed species composition. According to the Importance Value Index (IVI), Geophila macropoda (Ruiz & Pav.) DC. was the most important species overall. At the locality level, Buena Fe was characterized by the predominance of Drymaria cordata (L.) Willd. ex Schult., whereas Psychotria nervosa Sw. was the most prominent species in Valencia. Functional analysis of reproductive traits and interference within the weed community revealed a diversity of morphotypes and reproductive strategies, highlighting the presence of both annual and perennial life cycles, as well as various propagation mechanisms. The families Poaceae, Asteraceae, and Urticaceae were consistently represented and particularly relevant in this context. These findings underscore the importance of considering the diversity and specific characteristics of weed communities when making decisions related to sustainable agricultural management.
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