Influence of some cover leguminous plants on the infestation degree of cotton plant major weeds

Abstract

From phytosociological sampling carried out between 1999 and 2005 in cotton culture in the North of Ivory Coast, 
more than 230 weeds species were inventoried. Among those, Euphorbia heterophylla, Ageratum conizoides, 
Bidens pilosa Tridax procumbens, Boerhavia diffusa and Chromolaena odorata were the most abundant species 
causing weeding problems to farmers. A test that used herbaceous Fabaceae: Crotalaria sericea, Mucuna pruriens, 
Pueraria phaseoloides and Vigna unguiculata to control these weeds was carried out in some localities at Bouaké in 
the center of the country, Korhogo in North and Odienné in the North-West. The results showed that annual 
Leguminous species like C. sericea, M. pruriens and V. unguiculata, used in previous culture, decreased the rate of 
weeds on the different plots. P. phaseoloides, Leguminous perennial species was indicated in improved fallow.