María A Jiménez-Aguirre1, Laura M Ramírez2 and Carolina Zamorano-Montañez3
1Aplicaña La Virginia SAS, Colombia; mariajimenez.aguirre@gmail.com
2Ingenio Risaralda SA, Colombia
3Universidad de Caldas, Colombia
Weeds present a significant challenge to agricultural production, particularly in extensive crops like sugarcane. Effective weed management requires sampling methods that yield representative data on weed abundance and distribution. This study compares two sampling methods, diagonal and zigzag, based on population variables of diversity and abundance of weeds in sugarcane fields, using functional groups to classify species. An exploratory analysis was conducted in the four management zones of Ingenio Risaralda, Colombia, evaluating both sampling methods. The analysis focused on richness, diversity, and abundance related to the sampling method, as well as the influence of weeds in each management zone. Seventy-six species were categorized into 28 functional groups based on class, life cycle, habit, and growth form. The zigzag method identified more species and functional groups compared to the diagonal method. However, variables such as density, coverage, and diversity indices (Shannon index, Simpson index, Pielou index) were not significantly influenced by the sampling method. Both methods detected similar importance values for functional groups 10, 17, 4, 19, 12, 2, 18, 1, and 8, although groups 13 and 20 were not equally represented across the two methods. The results provide valuable insights into the diversity and abundance of weeds in each management zone. Despite minimal variation, Zone 1 was the most diverse, while Zone 2 was the least equitable. Additionally, functional groups of primary importance in each zone were identified, allowing for more targeted and effective weed-management strategies.