Echinochloa colona

Family – Poaceae 

Scientific name – Echinochloa colona (L.) Link

Common name – S- Gira-thana; T- Adipul

Synonyms – 

• Echinochloa colonum (L.) Link, E. crus-galli subsp. colona (L.) Honda, Panicum colonum L. (basionym), P. cumingianum Steud., P. zonale Guss., Milium colonum (L.) Moench, Oplismenus colonus (L.) Kunth 

Lifespan – Annual

Morphology –

• Plant – up to 60 cm tall.
• Stem – reddish or green, ascending to erect, No epidermal hairs present.
• Leaf: linear, about 10−15 cm long, basal part is often red; No ligules present.
• Inflorescence: simple racemes, colur could be green to purple, spikelets are subpedicellate.

Biology and ecology

• Flowers throughout the year
• Propagated by seeds (after a short dormancy period).
• There could be a large number of plants in a population
• E. colona is well response to nutrients
• This plants prefer moist soil but not flourish in flooded conditions
• A problem mainly in upland and rainfed lowland rice fields rather than in flooded fields

Agricultural importance

• The species mimic rice during vegetative growth stage and is a serious competitor of rice
• A host plant for tungro and rice yellow dwarf disease etc.
• This plant is also a palatable fodder for cattle and water buffalo.

Management

Cultural control: flooding; hand weeding or use of a hoe during early growth stages.

Chemical control: application of recommended weedicides

Photo credits –

1. http://www.fresnostate.edu
2. http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org
3. https://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu