Publication

Abstract : Brachiaria eruciformis (Sm.) Griseb. is a noxious weed of Australia and other parts of the world. The effects of different environmental conditions on the seed germination and seedling emergence of three biotypes sourced from different cropping systems (mungbean field, sorghum field, and fenceline) of this weed were evaluated. There were no differences in the response of biotypes to the evaluated factors; therefore, the data was pooled across the biotypes. The highest germination rate was observed at 30/20 °C, and seeds germinated both in light and dark conditions. Seed germination was influenced by different sodium chloride (NaCl) concentrations and water potentials, and no seeds germinated at 200 mM NaCl and −0.8 MPa water potential. Seeds germinated (>70%) at a broad range of pH, from 4 to 10. Compared with seeds sown on the soil surface, a burial depth of 4 cm reduced the seedling emergence by 84%. Similarly, a sorghum residue amount of 4 t ha−1 on the soil surface reduced the seedling emergence by 65%, compared with no sorghum residue cover. No seedlings emerged from seeds buried at 8 cm depth and >4 t ha−1 sorghum residue. This study suggests that burying seeds deep into the soil through tillage or employing a residue cover on the soil surface can reduce B. eruciformis emergence