Eco-Physiological Studies on Pistia Sratiotes. L. With Special Reference to its Occurrence on the Volta Lake in Ghana
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Date
1970-06
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University of Ghana
Abstract
The creation o f the Volta Lake in Ghana provides favourable
oonditions for rapid weed growth,, The present report represents an
attempt to investigate the in teraction between one o f the economically
important weeds on the Lake, P is t ia s t r a t io t e s , L ., and the physicochemical
condition o f i t s environment in the f i e l d and laboratory,
P is t ia is represented in most reaches o f the Lake but only
sheltered bays and es tu arie s in the south are oharaoterized by
luxuriant veg etation o f the species. Distribution and growth o f the
plant within these areas are con tro lled to some extent by the pH
and mineral composition o f lake water.
Under laboratory oonditions, marked influence is exerted by
substrate pH and nutrient content on the ve g etative reproduction
and growth or the plant. Occurrence o f optimum v e g e ta t iv e growth
a t low to ta l nutrient content and pH 5ยป0 is r e f le c te d in the
tendenc3r shown by ro s e tte s to grow la r g e r in areas o f the Lake
characterised by comparatively low degree o f m ineralization, and
pH.
Growth of the plant has been observed to a l t e r the pH and
mineral content of the substrate under f i e l d and laboratory conditions.
The nature o f th is change in the f i e l d depends on the cover o f
vegetation.
Stranded ro s e tte s which have become rooted in the drawdown area
o f the Vo lta Lake are capable o f regenerating and may reco lonize the
lake surfaceo
Results o f these in v e stigation s have been discussed with reference
to methods of con tro llin g the plant,
Description
Thesis(MSc)-University of Ghana, 1970