Decomposing swine cress residues inhibit rice emergence and early seedling growth
2013
Hussain, S. | Khalig, A. | Matloob, A. | Aslam, F.
Decomposing weed residues can interfere with germination and establishment of subsequent crop through allelopathy. A bioassay was conducted to ascertain effect of swine cress (Cronopus didymus L. Sm.) residues against rice (Oryza sativa L.) emergence and early seedling growth. Swine cress residues (4, 8, 12 and 16 g/kg soil) were incorporated maintaining two sets of each treatment. In one set, 15 rice seeds were uniformly sown while the other set was used to determine dynamics of phenolic release over time. Residue incorporation proved detrimental to rice emergence and seedling growth attributes that was diminished to a much greater extent at higher rate of residue incorporation. Higher rate (12 and 16 g/kg soil) reduced rice emergence by 60 and 74%, respectively. the corresponding reduction in seedling dry biomass amounted to 43 and 59%. Rice seedlings also inflicted lower chlorophyll contents and higher phenolics in response to residue incorporation over control. Soil analysis revealed a periodic increase in phenolics concentration attaining peak value at 10th day of residue incorporation that declined thereafter. Highest quantity (296 ug/g of soil) of phenolics was recorded when swine cress residues were incorporated at 16 g/kg of soil. In crux, swine cress residue incorporation suppressed rice emergence and seedling growth suggesting that chemical interference by residues of this weed will be a crucial factor for subsequent rice crop establishment under field conditions. Nonetheless, field studies seem inevitable to validate these results under components of natural settings.
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