Planta Daninha (2004) 22, 375-380

S. Bianco, A.F. Barbosa Junior and R.A. Pitelli (2004)
Crescimento e nutrição mineral de capim-camalote
[Growth and mineral nutrition of "camalote grass"]
Planta Daninha 22 (3), 375-380
Abstract: Rottboellia exaltata is considered one of the twelve worst weeds infesting sugarcane, because, in general, it does not allow suitable crop growth between sugarcane rows at weed density above 10/m². Dry matter production, distribution and macro-nutrient accumulation in R. exaltata were studied under greenhouse conditions. The plants were grown in pots filled with washed and sieved river sand, irrigated daily with Hoagland and Arnon complete nutrient solution at 50% of the original concentration. The first evaluation was carried out 21 days after seedling emergence (DAE), and the others every 14 days. The dry matter of all plant parts was determined. The material was ground and analyzed for macronutrient content. The results indicated that the plant presented slow growth up to 63 DAE, followed by fast growth from that date until the end of the experiment (133 DAE). Maximum accumulation occurred at 133 DAE, when a plant of R. exaltata accumulated 87.18 g of dry matter. At 133 DAE, about 34.60% of the dry matter was allocated on the roots, 40.29% on the stems and sheaths, 15.13% on the leaves, and 8.35% on the inflorescences. The total accumulation of macronutrients by R. exaltata was increasingly higher during plant cycle. At 77 DAE, a R. exaltata plant accumulated 7.14 g dry matter; 132.2 mg K; 81.5 mg N; 32.3 mg Ca; 18.8 g P; 18.6 mg Mg and 10.1 mg S.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
(original language: Portuguese)
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Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Rottboellia cochinchinensis (weed)	Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum)	Brazil (south)