Assessment of allelopathic potential of barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli) on rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars

Laboratory, greenhouse and field studies were conducted to assess the allelopathic potential of 44 rice cultivars (Oryza sativa L.) on barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli P. Beauv. var. oryzicola Ohwi). Rice cultivars exhibited marked differences in the inhibition of barnyard grass growth and development. In the laboratory, Gin shun rice cultivar extracts exhibited the greatest activity on the weed seedling growth, reducing dry weight by 61%, while Kasarwala mundara cultivar extracts exhibited the greatest activity on seed germination, reducing germination by 23% and germination speed by 46%. In a greenhouse study of a residue mixture, the Philippine 2 cultivar showed the greatest inhibition percentage on seedling emergence (57%), total seedling length (74%) and dry weight (73%). In the field study, the Juma 10 cultivar demonstrated the most inhibitory effect by reducing barnyard grass tiller number (80%), leaf area (49%) and leaf (61%) and stem (74%) dry weight (68%). These results suggest that there are differences among the varieties for allelopathic inhibition of barnyard grass, and that the development of barnyard grass suppressive rice cultivars that have greater allelopathic potential may be possible. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.