Effect of light and water gradients on the growth and distribution of Commelina Benghalensis and Commelina Africana on Makerere campus

Abstract

The present study was conducted to assess the effect of light and water gradients on the growth and distribution of Commelina behghalesis and Commelina africana. This was specifically conducted in periods of high water content (January) and periods of low water content (March) Five replicates of one by one meters quadrants for each condition were set, i.e. low water content – full illumination (LF), Low water content – partial illumination (LP), High water content – full illumination (HF) and High water content – partial illumination (HP). The study was conducted in the vegetation cover behind the Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology in Makerere University. The Commelina spp were monitored and their length of stem, number of visible leaves, number of shoots and length of the internode were measured, counted and recorded. Length of stem, number of visible leaves (transformed), length of the internode and number of shoots results were subjected to three-way ANOVA to determine the effect of light and water gradients at P=0.05. Significant effect of water content were observed on Commelina benghalesis (ANOVA, P<2.081e-15) the effect of light on Commelina africana also showed a significant difference (ANOVA, P<1.625e-3). Control methods of these two obnoxious weeds; C. benghalesis and C. africana on Makerere University should be designed