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Barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P.Beauv) is less competitive on rice (Oryza sativa L.) when phosphorus (P) is applied to deeper layers in P-deficient and moisture-limited soils

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A Commentary to this article was published on 22 April 2015

Abstract

Background and aims

Barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P.Beauv) is a major C4 weed in rice fields. We aimed to explore a management strategy to reduce its competition with rice (Oryza sativa L.) (C3) in low-phosphorus (P) soil with varying soil moisture availability. Therefore, we investigated the effect of P placement at different depths.

Methods

The main experiment was conducted in pots (15 cm diameter, 70 cm height) filled with P-deficient soil as a replacement series with different plant combinations (rice and barnyard grass monocultures; four plants per pot, and a mixture of rice and barnyard grass; two plants of each species per pot) with two P placement depths (0–5 and 15–20 cm from the soil surface) and three moisture treatments (continuous flooding - CF, alternate wetting and drying - AWD, and top soil drying - TSD from flowering). The pots were maintained until crop maturity. A rhizobox experiment supplemented the main experiment to study the root system plasticity during the initial growth stages (i.e., after 14 and 28 days of growth).

Key results

Placement of P in a deeper soil layer (15–20 cm) reduced the growth and P uptake of barnyard grass by over 70 and 80 %, respectively, irrespective of the plant combination, and moisture treatments, while such reductions were not observed in rice. Reduced growth and P uptake of barnyard grass were associated with the arrested root elongation even from the very early growth stages failing to search for P applied to 15–20 cm soil layer. In contrast, root elongation of rice increased from early growth stages when P was applied at 15–20 cm soil depth and reached the P-supplied soil layer to ensure P uptake. Average root diameter decreased by 12 %, and the percentage fine root production (i.e., < 0.4 mm diameter) increased by 8 % when P was applied at 15–20 cm deep compared with those at 0–5 cm depth.

Conclusions

Phosphorous placement at 15–20 cm soil depth reduced the competitive ability of barnyard grass over rice in P-deficient soils, irrespective of the soil moisture management method.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya. Authors appreciate the technical assistance provided by G Wijesuriya and KATN Somaweera, and valuable comments given by LW Galagedara, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada and the reviewers to an earlier version of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, 20400, Sri Lanka

    L. V. Y. Weerarathne, Lalith D. B. Suriyagoda & B. Marambe

  2. School of Plant Biology and Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia

    Lalith D. B. Suriyagoda

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  1. L. V. Y. Weerarathne
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Correspondence to Lalith D. B. Suriyagoda.

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Responsible Editor: Hans Lambers.

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Weerarathne, L.V.Y., Suriyagoda, L.D.B. & Marambe, B. Barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P.Beauv) is less competitive on rice (Oryza sativa L.) when phosphorus (P) is applied to deeper layers in P-deficient and moisture-limited soils. Plant Soil 391, 1–17 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-015-2383-y

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