Literature Review: The Ecology and Control of Parthenium (Weed)

This literature review explores the ecology and control of Parthenium hysterophorus, a highly invasive weed originating from the Americas. It details the weed's characteristics, including its growth habits, distribution across the globe, and seed dispersal mechanisms. The review highlights the significant impacts of Parthenium on human health, causing allergies and dermatitis; on animals, leading to grazing land shortages and toxicity; and on crops, through allelopathic effects and yield reductions. The paper further discusses the biology of the weed, including its life cycle and physical attributes, as well as its ecological preferences. The review emphasizes the need for integrated management strategies, encompassing biological, chemical, mechanical, and competitive replacement methods, as no single approach proves fully effective. The review underscores the complexity of controlling this weed, which poses a threat to biodiversity and causes various health and economic issues.