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Ecological significance of rice (Oryza sativa) planting density and nitrogen rates in managing the growth and competitive ability of itchgrass (Rottboellia cochinchinensis) in direct-seeded rice systems

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Abstract

Current understanding is that high planting density has the potential to suppress weeds and crop–weed interactions can be exploited by adjusting fertilizer rates. We hypothesized that (a) high planting density can be used to suppress Rottboellia cochinchinensis growth and (b) rice competitiveness against this weed can be enhanced by increasing nitrogen (N) rates. We tested these hypotheses by growing R. cochinchinensis alone and in competition with four rice planting densities (0, 100, 200, and 400 plants m−2) at four N rates (0, 50, 100, and 150 kg ha−1). At 56 days after sowing (DAS), R. cochinchinensis plant height decreased by 27–50 %, tiller number by 55–76 %, leaf number by 68–84 %, leaf area by 70–83 %, leaf biomass by 26–90 %, and inflorescence biomass by 60–84 %, with rice densities ranging from 100 to 400 plants m−2. All these parameters increased with an increase in N rate. Without the addition of N, R. cochinchinensis plants were 174 % taller than rice; whereas, with added N, they were 233 % taller. Added N favored more weed biomass production relative to rice. R. cochinchinensis grew taller than rice (at all N rates) to avoid shade, which suggests that it is a “shade-avoiding” plant. R. cochinchinensis showed this ability to reduce the effect of rice interference through increased leaf weight ratio, specific stem length, and decreased root-shoot weight ratio. This weed is more responsive to N fertilizer than rice. Therefore, farmers should give special consideration to the application timing of N fertilizer when more N-responsive weeds are present in their field. Results suggest that the growth and seed production of R. cochinchinensis can be decreased considerably by increasing rice density to 400 plants m−2. There is a need to integrate different weed control measures to achieve complete control of this noxious weed.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Bill Hardy and Grace Cañas for providing comments on the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Weed Science, Crop and Environmental Sciences Division, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Los Baños, Philippines

    Tahir Hussain Awan

  2. Crop Science Cluster, College of Agriculture, University of Philippines Los Baños, Los Baños, Philippines

    Tahir Hussain Awan & Pompe C. Sta Cruz

  3. Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), The University of Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD, 4350, Australia

    Bhagirath Singh Chauhan

Authors
  1. Tahir Hussain Awan
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  2. Pompe C. Sta Cruz
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  3. Bhagirath Singh Chauhan
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Correspondence to Tahir Hussain Awan.

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Communicated by M. Traugott.

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Awan, T.H., Sta Cruz, P.C. & Chauhan, B.S. Ecological significance of rice (Oryza sativa) planting density and nitrogen rates in managing the growth and competitive ability of itchgrass (Rottboellia cochinchinensis) in direct-seeded rice systems. J Pest Sci 88, 427–438 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-014-0604-4

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