Germination Ecology of Goosegrass (Eleusine indica): An Important Grass Weed of Rainfed Rice

Abstract

Goosegrass is considered one of the most important grassy weeds of rice, particularly in rain-fed environments. Experiments were conducted in laboratory, screenhouse, and field to study the germination ecology of goosegrass seeds. In the laboratory, germination was greater at higher alternating temperatures (30/20 and 35/25 C) than at the lowest alternating temperatures (25/15 C). An after-ripening period of at least 3 mo was required to improve the germination of goosegrass. Germination was tolerant of salt stress but sensitive to a high degree of water stress. A pH range of 5 to 10 did not influence seed germination (92 to 95%). In the screenhouse study, seedling emergence of goosegrass was greatest (82%) for seeds placed on the soil surface, but decreased exponentially after that, no seedlings emerged at a burial depth of 8 cm. Seedling emergence and seedling dry matter declined markedly with the addition of crop residue to the soil surface at rates equivalent to 4 to 6 ton (t) ha−1. In the field, seedling emergence of goosegrass was greater under zero-till (ZT; 16 to 18%) than under minimum tillage (MINT; 8 to 11%). Because seedling emergence was greater from surface-sown seeds and emergence was favored by ZT, this species is likely to become a problematic weed in ZT systems. The information gained from this study could be used in developing effective weed management strategies.

Germination ecology of wild onion: a rainfed crop weed

“…We further conclude that during the drier chickpea growing months A. tenuifolius germination would be restricted to low laying areas, where more moisture of summer rainfall is preserved in AugustSeptember. Similar response for seed germination of Eupatorium adenophorum (crofton weed); (Lu et al, 2006), Synedrella nodiflora (Chauhan & Johnson, 2008b) and Eluesine indica (goosegrass) (Chauhan & Johnson, 2008d) was recorded, i.e the seeds of these weeds are sensitive to different levels of drought stress.…”

“…Similar results to those of Chauhan et al (2006f) were found in Lolium rigidum (rigid ryegrass). In contrast, 92 to 95% germination of Eleusine indica (goosegrass) was measured at a pH range between 4 and 10 (Chauhan & Johnson, 2008d).…”

“…Borreria ocymoides (purple leaf button) (Chauhan & Johnson, 2008e), Amaranthus spinosus (spiny amaranth) (Chauhan & Johnson, 2009c) and Synedrella nodiflora (Chauhan & Johnson, 2009b) (Chauhan & Johnson, 2008d).…”

Weed seed bank response to tillage and residue management in semi-arid Zimbabwe

“…Increased jute numbers in the in-row position in the PB could be due to the combined effect of the basin making process and the water harvesting process that washes C. tridens seeds into the basin. Chauhan and Johnson (2008b) showed that C. tridens is not photoblastic so it can germinate even when buried under residues and in the soil.…”

Chemical Control of Glyphosate-Resistant Goosegrass

“…Its intrinsic characteristics, such as photosynthetic C4, rapid growth and high seed production, which can germinate under a large range of soil conditions in terms of salinity, pH, compaction and temperature, make this species extremely competitive (Ismail et al, 2002;Chauhan and Johnson, 2008;Takano et al, 2016a). Goosegrass thrives mainly on roadsides and machinery tracks, due to the compaction of the soil in these places and the absence of other plants around it (Arrieta et al, 2009).…”