Abstract:
An important step in the livelihood planning and improvement of the locals in an extremely isolated far-flung area of Mankial Valley of district Swat which is entirely dependent upon plant natural resources was investigated. Diverse age groups ranging from 25-120 years were interviewed about the role of common weed species growing wild in their crop fields in the study area. Twenty three weed species of ethno medicinal importance were collected from different crops i.e. maize, turnip, potato, cabbages and tomatoes. Out of the twenty three species, eleven (47.82%) were used as fodder, six (26.08%) as pot-herb, two (8.69%) each as purgative, diuretic, antiseptic, carminative, healing wounds, athlete’s foot, and one (4.34%) each as flatulence, stimulant, antirheumatic, emollient, refrigerant, skin healer, liver, lungs disease and as stomachache. However, due to the rapid increase in population of the valley and to meet the growing demand for more food, the people use different herbicides for the removal of these weeds from their crop fields. Instead of the use of hazardous herbicides, proper weed management is proposed for the sustainability of ecosystem, conservation of plant natural resources and preservation of the indigenous knowledge of the local communities of this remote area of the country for the upcoming generations.
Page(s):
27-32
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: Pakistan Journal of Weed Science Research, Volume: 13, Issue: 1--2, Year: 2007