Assessment of the Impact of Wheat Cleaning Processes on Weed Dissemination in the Green Mountain Region, Libya

Abstract

Wheat screening residues represent a significant and diverse source of weed seeds, indicating the potential transmission of various weed species during the seed cleaning process. This contamination can result in substantial reductions in grain yield. Therefore, weed management programs should place greater emphasis on the efficiency of seed cleaning operations prior to sowing.

In this study, five wheat seed samples (each weighing approximately 250 g) were collected from trusted farms in the Green Mountain region during the 2023/2024 growing season. The samples were screened using a 2 mm sieve at the Crop Science Laboratory, and the screening residues were subsequently sown in sterilized soil-filled containers (60 × 90 cm surface area and 30 cm depth). The residues were applied at different weights (0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 g per container) under controlled laboratory conditions. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates was employed to evaluate the density and diversity of weed seeds transferred via wheat seed lots. Diversity indices such as Shannon’s Index and Pielou’s Evenness Index were calculated, and data were analyzed using SAS software.
The results revealed a high diversity of weed species, which increased with the amount of screening residues. Convolvulus arvensis was the dominant species across all containers, followed by Brassica campestris, Lecanora escylenta, and Lathyrus sativus, while Fumaria densiflora had the lowest frequency. These findings underscore the importance of improving seed screening protocols to minimize the spread of weed seeds through wheat seed lots The study also highlights the socio-economic and environmental benefits of advanced screening, emphasizing the need for integrating smart technologies like GIS to optimize weed management.