ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Germination Ecology of Red Sprangletop:
a Problematic Weed of Direct-Seeded Rice
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Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan
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Al-Qadisiyah University, College of Agriculture, Iraq
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Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan
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Department of Agricultural Engineering, Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and information Technology,
Rahim yar Khan, Pakistan
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Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan
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Botany and Microbiology Department, College of Science, King Saud University,
P.O. Box. 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
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Department of Higher Education, GDC Eidgah Srinagar India -190017
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Plant Production Department, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University,
P.O. Box. 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Submission date: 2023-12-28
Final revision date: 2024-02-26
Acceptance date: 2024-08-03
Online publication date: 2024-11-22
Athar Mahmood
Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, 38000, Faisalabad, Pakistan
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ABSTRACT
Leptochloa chinensis L. commonly called red sprangletop is a new problematic weed of rice
(Oryza sativa L.) sown under dry conditions in Pakistan and caused a drastic reduction in its yield and
quality. Scientific inquiry was conducted concerning the germination ecology of this weed in directseeded
rice. A series of laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the effect of pH, salinity,
temperature, seed burial depth, and water ponding conditions on the germination of L. chinensis.
In five different experiments, six variable pHs ranging from 5 to 10; six salinity levels viz. 0 (Distilled
water), 50 mM, 100 mM, 150 mM, 200 mM, 250 mM and 300 mM; six variable temperatures viz.
20oC, 25oC, 30oC, 35oC, 40oC and 45oC; seven different burial depths viz. 0 cm (on soil surface),
1 cm, 2 cm, 3 cm, 4 cm, 5 cm and 6 cm; and different water ponding depths viz. 0 cm, 2 cm, 3 cm,
4 cm, 5 cm and 6 cm were kept as experimental treatments. The results revealed that within the pH
range of 6-7 and 35oC temperature, L. chinensis seeds attained the highest germination percentages
(78% and 92%, respectively). A gradual significant decline in germination of L. chinensis was noted by
the increase in NaCl concentration from 0 to 200 mM, sowing depth from 1 to 5 cm, and flooding depth from 0 to 4 cm. However, beyond 200 mM NaCl concentration, 5 cm sowing depth, and 4 cm
flooding depth, no L. chinensis seed could germinate/emerge. According to the 3-parameters logistic
model estimation, 50% germination of the maximum germination of L. chinensis occurred at 102 mM
NaCl concentration, 1.56 cm burial depth, and 2.2 cm flooding depth.