Biodiversity and Ethnobotany of Crop Weeds in Sambhajinagar District (Maharashtra): A Review

Abstract

Weeds occurring within crop fields are conventionally viewed as competitors that reduce yield, yet a growing body of ecological and ethnobotanical literature indicates that many weed species contribute positively to agroecosystem functioning and rural livelihoods. This review synthesises published evidence on the biodiversity and ethnobotanical significance of crop-field weeds in Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) district and the wider Marathwada region of Maharashtra, India. It examines regional patterns of weed diversity linked to semi-arid climate, soil type, irrigation regime, tillage and cropping practice; the ecosystem services weeds provide, including pollinator support, soil stabilisation and natural pest regulation; their documented uses as food, fodder, medicine andmaterials for cultural and ritual practice among rural and tribal communities; and the agronomic, ecological and public-health problems posed by invasive and difficult-to-control species such as Parthenium hysterophorus and Cyperus rotundus. Standard ecological methods (quadrat and line-transect sampling, Shannon–Wiener and Simpson diversity indices) and ethnobotanical tools (Use Value, Relative Frequency of Citation, Informant Consensus Factor) used in comparable studies are also reviewed. The synthesis shows that existing floristic and ethnobotanical work on Sambhajinagar district is fragmented, largely single-season, and rarely integrates ecological and ethnobotanical dimensions within one study. The review concludes that an integrated, district-specific investigation combining systematic floristic surveys with structured ethnobotanical documentation is needed to generate an up-to-date baseline for weed biodiversity and associated traditional knowledge, supporting conservation planning and culturally informed, sustainable weed management in the region.