Weed Science (2013) 61, 98-103

Bhagirath S. Chauhan (2013)
Growth response of itchgrass (Rottboellia cochinchinensis) to water stress
Weed Science 61 (1), 98-103
Abstract: Greenhouse studies were conducted to evaluate the growth response of itchgrass to water stress. Itchgrass plants produced the greatest aboveground biomass and seeds at 75% of field capacity and these parameters at 50 and 100% of field capacity were similar. With further increase in water stress, seed production was sharply reduced, but itchgrass was still able to produce an average of 63 and 9 seeds plant⁻¹ at 25 and 12.5% of field capacity, respectively. Itchgrass plants responded to increasing water stress with increased leaf weight ratio; it was 2.5 times greater at 12.5% of field capacity than at 100% of field capacity. In another study, compared with daily irrigation, intervals of 9 d between irrigations reduced aboveground biomass of itchgrass by 27% and 12-d intervals reduced aboveground biomass by 67%. Compared with the daily irrigation regime, itchgrass seed production was reduced by 61% at intervals of 12 d between irrigations; however, the weed plants produced a considerable number of seeds (153 seeds plant⁻¹) at the 12-d intervals. The ability of itchgrass to produce biomass and seeds under water stressed conditions necessitates strategies that minimize weed survival while maximizing irrigation efficiency for the crop at the same time.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Bhagirath Singh Chauhan

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution
environment - cropping system/rotation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Rottboellia cochinchinensis (weed)