Increased Weed

Problems in Modern
Agriculture
 Larger adoption-HYV &
Hybrids.

 Increased Irrigation &

Fertilizers.

 Altered Agronomy of Crops.

 Mono & Multiple Cropping.

 Reduced Tillage.
 Challenges in
Weed
Management
 Reducing Labour Force
 Increasing Labour Costs
 Reducing Animal Power
 Reducing Soil Applied Herbicide
use
 Quality of Food & Water Environment
 Threat of Alien Invasive Weeds
 Sustainability
Yield, Economics &
Environment
 Share of Losses Caused by
Pests
Rodents & 21
Others %

Weeds
33%
Diseases
26%

Insects20%
On an average 33% of the crop yield is lost due to
weeds
(Annual monetary loss: more than Rs.1,05,000
Crores)
Production Technology Contribution to
Productivity
Crop Production Technology Contribution to Yield
(%)
Land Preparation 6.2
Organic Manure 4.1
Genotypes 13.8
Optimum Seeding 7.9
Time of Sowing 18.0
Line Sowing 9.6
Crop Geometry 3.0
Fertilizers Nutrients 8.3
Weed Management 15.2
Irrigation Management 10.6
Plant Protection 3.4
Weed?
Weed…….
Term “WEED” is used for
plants that interfere with
human activities and
aspirations
Ever since humans
domesticated plants they
would have had problems
with “WEEDS”
Mother Nature
knows “NO WEED”
“WEED” is
any plant that is a hazard, nuisance, or causes
injury to human, animals, or desired crops (or)
UNDESIRED
VEGETATION

Hibiscus trionum Aristolochia Portulaca

bractiata oleracea

Phalaris Avena fatua Brachiaria eruciformis

Echinochloa colona
paradoxa
 Weeds are Silent Robbers of Resources
Nutrient Requirement Water Requirement
Weeds can deprive
To produce 1 kg of dry matter
47% of N
42% of P2O5 Weeds/Crops WR(Litres)
56% of K2O
Chenopdium album 670
39% of Ca
24% of Mg Ambrosia artemisiifolia 930

Weeds contain Cynodon dactylon 1360

2.0 times more N
Sunflower 620
1.5 times more P2O5
Corn 360
3.5 times more K2O
7.5 times more Ca Wheat 560

3.0 times more Mg

Problems posed by Weeds
Yield loss
Reduction in the produce
quality
Increases cost of cultivation
Reduces land value
Lowers water flow in
Irrigation canals
Problems posed by Weeds
Lowers water quality,
volume, hindrance to
navigation/ recreation
 Lowers fodder availability to
animals
Harbours insects/ disease
causing organisms
Provides shelter for rodents/
snakes
Problems posed by Weeds

Dried weeds prone for

occurrence of forest fires
Causes health problems to
human beings, animals
Weeds’ presence on either
side of roads reduces
visibility
Weeds causing
problems to human
beings
Water hyacinth
Water hyacinth in Kerala
lakes
Problems posed by Aquatic weeds
Causes 2 to 3 times higher water loss
through ET > evaporation
Interferes navigation, fishing, domestic and
Industrial water supplies, transportation,
communication, sports, recreation
Pollute water bodies, blocking water
courses, irrigation canals
Problems by Aquatic weeds
Affects other useful plants
Pose health problems – mosquito menace,
habitat for vectors of malaria, amoebic
dysentery, typhoid, Dengue fever,
Elephantiasis, etc.
Interferes in Agriculture, hydro-electric
power schemes, environment problems
Harbours poisonous reptiles, causes skin
rashes
Parthenium
Labour in constant contact
with Parthenium
Skin
lesions
Allergic rashes/ wounds
by parthenium
 Alternate host for pests
Phyllod
and diseases
y

Little leaf
Croton
Leaf
sparsiflorus curl
Tomato leaf curl
Parthenium – alternate
Tomato leaf curl virus
host
Sunflower bud necrosis
Groundnut bud necrosis
Groundnut stem necrosis

Barnyard grass and Echinochloa

serve as alternate host for stem
borer of rice
Weeds ill effect
Argemone mexicana seed – mixed with
mustard seeds – usage cause blindness
and acute cases – fatal
Lantana camara – leaf rubbing with
animals cause skin irritation during
bright sunlight
Parthenium hysterophorus – hay fever,
running nose, cold, cough, breathing
problem – acute cases – asthma, skin
allergy – contact dermatitis in humans
 Weeds lower fodder
availability to animals
Characteristics of weeds
Proverb – One year seeding
= seven years weeding
Weeds germinate only 10 to
20% every year
Weeds emerge in spatial
manner
Weeds associate with soils/
crops/ agronomic conditions
Weed Characteristics
Weeds produce more seeds, with
varied degree of dormancy (once
seeding – seven years weeding), easy
disperse/ distribute in different
profiles of the soil
Weeds more aggressive and complete
life cycle even under adverse climatic
conditions
• Weeds disperse
• easily
Ecological aspects of weeds
 Out of 10,64,035 scientific plant species,
3,50,699 plant species have been accepted
(33%).
470,624 as synonyms & 242,712 as
unresolved species.
These plants belong to 405 families and
14,559 genera.
[Link], 2013
India ranks 6th among the 12 mega
biodiversity centres of the world.
India has a rich bio-diversity with
40,000 species of plants.
The maximum plant species:
Asteraceae > Fabaceae > Poaceae >
Lamiaceae > Cyperaceae >
Brassicaceae (Cabbage family)
Weeds
Global compendium of weeds - >28,000
plant species = weeds.
About 8000 weed species are observed in
agriculture in 124 countries.
About 250 species are considered to be
problematic.
Poaceae, Asteraceae and Cyperaceae -
comprise 44% of WWW (World’s worst
weeds).
Major WWW’s
World worst weeds are Cyperus
rotundus, Cynodon dactylon, Echinochloa
crus-galli, Eleusine indica, Eichhornia
crassipes, Imperata cylindrica, Sorghum
halepense, Ageratum conyzoides, Cyperus
difformis, Dactyloctenium aegyptium,
Elymus repens, Bidens pilosa, Eclipta
prostrata, Parthenium sp and Striga spp.
World weeds grouped by families
Weed family Number of
species
1 Poaceae 44 (22%)
2 Asteraceae 32 (16%)
3 Cyperaceae 12(6%)
4 Amaranthaceae 7(3.5%)
5 Cruciferae 7(3.5%)
6 Leguminosae 6(3%)
7 Convolvulaceae 5(2.5%)
8 Euphorbiaceae 5(2.5%)
9 Chenopodiaceae 4(2%)
Total weed species 200
Weed Types
Three distinct types of weeds.
Grasses, sedges and broad leaf weeds.
By virtue of higher volume, grasses
offer greater competition to crops,
followed by sedges and or broad leaf
weeds in many of the field and
horticultural crops.
Weed seed production and longevity
Weed seeds mature at different times.
Weeds have dormancy – germinates only 10-
15% annually
Weed seed bank in the soil – billions of seeds –
weed seeds lost due to predation by the
predators, many die/ decompose, longer
viability
3 to 6 years in Bidens pilosa, Avena fatua, > 70
years in Cuscuta spp and 80 years in Curled
dock (Rumex crispus)
Seed production & longevity of weeds
Weed species Seeds/plant Longevity in
soil, years

Tribulus terrestris 1,00,000 15-20

Portulaca 52,000 – 1,00,000 20-40
oleracea
Echinochloa spp 7,00,000 5-10
Chenopodium 72,450 21-40
album
Cuscuta spp 16,000 70
Orobanche spp 5.0 – 8.0 lakh 40-60
Avena fatua 750-2000 4-6
 Weed differing in photosynthetic system
C4 weeds
Weeds have Hatch Slack cycle, primary
receptor of CO2 is phosphoenol pyruvate (PEP),
CO2 fixation is fast and more efficient, and
leaves have kranz anatomy
Eg. Many Sedges, Grasses, Amaranthus,
Parthenium, Euphorbia, Trianthema
C3 Weeds
Weeds have calvin cycle, primary
receptor of CO2 is ribulose,1,5-
bisphosphate (RuBP), CO2 fixation
is slow and less efficient and
leaves do not have kranz anatomy
Eg. Broad leaf weeds,
Parthenium, Chromolaena,
Avena, Phalaris, Water hyacinth
CAM Weeds
Crassulacean Acid Metabolism weeds:
Weeds fix atmospheric CO2 in dark,
perform calvin cycle during day time,
stomata closed during day and open
during night, possess xerophytic
character and drought tolerance
Eg. Ageratum, Bidens, Colacasia, Conyza
spp
Alien Invasive Weeds
In India
Importing of food grains common
prior to green revolution – mid
1970’s
After green revolution – now and
then food grains are imported
World Worst Weeds yet to be recorded in
India – Holm et al., 1979
Countries No. of weed spp

Australia, New 195

Zealand
South East Asia, Far East 150
Middle East 118
South America 102
Europe 90
World Worst Weeds yet to be recorded in
India – Holm et al., 1979
Countries No. of weed spp

Europe 90
Central America 86
North America 33
Former Soviet Union 20
Total 975
List of Quarantine of Weeds
61 species of weeds (prior to 2000) and
31 species (as of October 2004) are
listed as quarantine – entry is
prohibited to India
As per schedule VIII – clause 3(12),
GOI
Pimmentel et al., 2000
Invasive Alien Weeds – Annual losses –
US $ 137 billion in USA
US $ 117 billion in India
US $ 50 billion in Brazil
US $ 12 billion in UK
US $ 7 billion in South Africa
Biological IAW to India & naturalized
Biological invasion as admixture
of food grains – Argemone
mexicana, P. hysterophorus,
Phalaris minor
Human movement –
Chromolaena odorata;
Ornamental value – Lantana
camara, Eichhornia crassipes;
 Prevention

Mechanic Herbicides
al

Integrated
Weed
Managemen
t

Cultivation Utility of Biological

practices Weeds control
Weeds Uses
Green Manure
Compost
As Medicinal plant
As Leafy vegetable
As Fuel
As Fodder
Other uses
Celosia argentea
- Leafy vegetable
Sida spinosa as
broom stick
Weeds as fodder
Weeds as compost
Weeds as green manure
Compost prepared
from weeds
Weed emergence & weeding time
Weeds emerge
simultaneously along with
crop – offer competition from
the beginning
Critical period of Crop-Weed
Competition (CWC) starts
during early phase of crop
cycle
Management of weeds
Prevention is better than cure
Sanitation of non-crop areas,
quarantine of animals, use of clean
seed, screening of irrigation water, use
of good manure seeds, strict qurantine
laws
Weeds From To
Water hyacinth S. America Asia
Salvinia Africa Asia
Parthenium/ Phalaris N. America S. Asia
Striga Africa N. America
 Prevention is better than cure
Use of clean seed without weed seeds
Use of certified seeds/ from know source
Use of FYM/ Compost from known
source where weed seeds’ contamination
are less or well decomposed
Prevention is better than cure
Weeds should not be present
around compost pits
Water course – no weeds,
bunds should be clean
Remove weeds before
flowering so that seed
transmission from one place
to the other can be avoided
• UÉƧâgÀzÀ UÀÄ0r

UÀÄArUÀ¼À ¸ÀÄvÀÛ
PÀ¼É¬ÄgÀ¨ÁgÀzÀÄ
 Tillage
Summer ploughing – weeds reduce by 10-15%
Aids in good land preparation, further
emergence of weeds restricted
Soil solarisation – kills weeds in 15 – 30 cm soil
layer by increasing soil temperature up to 55ºC
(10 -15ºC more than non-solarized plot) –
mineralization of nutrients, kills pathogens/
insects
Summer ploughing
Soil solarisation – 45
days before sowing
Soil solarised maize
Line sowing – beneficial for interculturing
Interculturing in finger millet
Interculturing
 Interculturing in
in Redgram
Redgram
Power tiller in
sugarcane
Crop rotation
Good for parasitic weeds
Build up of particular type
of weed (s) can be
restricted (Rice- Rice –
Echinochloa spp ; Rice-
upland crops – pulses –
Echinochloa spp)
Soil fertility restoration
Manual weeding
Expensive
Labour not available when
needed
Labour force can not be used for
other productive purposes
Trash mulching in sugarcane
Controlled Burning
Biological control of
weeds
Opuntia – Mealy bug Dactylopious
opuntiae
Opuntia sp
Opuntia – drying after mealy
bug infestation
Parthenium

Mexican beetle (Zygogramma bicolorat

Parthenium damaged by
beetle
 Cassia
uniflora –
Botanicals
suppressing
Parthenium
Cassia uniflora suppressed
parthenium by > 95%
Weeds of crops
Echinochloa colona – barnyard grass

Good fodder
Alternanther
a sessilis-
Good leafy
vegetable
with more
Vitamin A,
Ca
Phalaris minor L. Native –
Mediterranean
region; Introduced
to India thro’
imported wheat
from Mexico;
Number one
enemy weed in
North India in
wheat; causes
yield loss up to
80% in dwarf
wheat in Haryana,
Punjab; Occurs in
winter crops in
north west India;
Centella asiatica
Improves memory
power, voice,
appetite, used as
laxative, cooling,
cures
leucoderma,
anemia, urinary
discharges,
bronchitis, fevers
 Ageratum
conyzoides
Checks bleeding,
Healing wounds,
Rheumatism,
Stomach ailments,
Snake bites, Piles,
Leprosy,, Fever,
Expelling parasitic
worms
Borreria articularis
Used as good fodder
to milch animals,
increases lactation
Celosia argentea

Good source of protein,

Ca, Fe, cures diarrhea,
eye troubles, sore mouth
Argemone mexicana

Laxative,
Expectorant, Skin
diseases,
Jaundice, Sores,
Rheumatism, Eye
complents,
Scabies
Cyperus rotundus
Native – Eurasia;
L.
World worst Weed;
Cultivated crops/
horticultural crops,
garden lands, gardens;
Uses – treat leprosy,
fever, dysentery,
diuretic, stomach
disorders, etc.
 Native – East
Cynodon dactylon Pers. Africa;
World Worst
Weed;
irrigated/
rainfed
agriculture;
Good fodder,
Medicinal
value –
lowers
cramps,
hemorrhage,
hypertension
, sores,
clears
stones,
Dactylocteniu
m aegyptium

Good fodder
Digitaria marginata – crab
grass

Good fodder
 Useful as
laxative,
beneficial in
leprosy, cures
sores,
snakebite ,
lowers skin
irritation,
cools,
Commelina swelling, pain,

benghalensis
Acanthospermum
hispidum

Cures skin
diseases, fever,
antibacterial
antifungal
 Touch me not
Mimosa pudica L.
Native – Brazil;
Common weed
of moist waste
land, lawns,
open
plantations,
cultivated crops,
road sides;
Forms dense
cover suppress
Borreria,
Stachytarpheta,
Cynodon, etc.;
Cures dysentery,
cut wounds,
Eleusine indica – Wild ragi
Leucas aspera
Cures skin
eruptions,
psoriasis,
painful
swellings, cold,
headache,
chronic
rheumatism,
improves
appetite
 Remedy for
bronchitis, asthma,
cough, kills
intestinal worms in
children, milky juice
lowers cracking on
lips, lowers feverish,
provides coolness
Euphrobia hirta and soothing effect
Calotropis
gigantea Laxative, used
in small pox,
leg/ chest
pain, skin
diseases,
ulcers, boils,
rheumatism,
tetanus,
tongue
 Lowers thirst,
cooling effect,
bronchitis, leprosy,
anemia, urinary
discharges,
Jaundice,
tubercular ulcers,
Phyllanthus niruri wounds, sores,
scabies, ring worm
Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms.
Native of South America;
One out of 100 Worlds’
Worst Invaders; As
ornamental pond plant in
1896 Botanical Garden –
Calcutta; Free floating
major aquatic weed;
Disrupts navigation,
commercial fishing, bio-
diversity, heavy water
loss, affects water quality,
fostering water borne
diseases; shelter for
mosquitoes, affects
human health;
 Native – Tropical
Lantana camara America; one out
L. of 100 Worlds’
Worst Invaders;
occurs in 60
countries;
Introduced as
ornamental plant
to National
Botanical Garden,
Calcutta – 1809;
Spread to forests,
plantation crops,
wasteland,
pasture and
grasslands, etc;
Abundant seeds
Parthenium hysterophorus L.
Native- Mexico, South
Native- Mexico, South
and
and North
North America;
America;
Introduced
Introduced to to India
India thro’
thro’
wheat
wheat grains
grains inin 1955;
1955;
now
now spread
spread to to entire
entire
India;
India; 35
35 million
million ha;ha;
Causes
Causes health
health hazards
hazards to to
human
human beings,
beings, animals;
animals;
occurs
occurs inin all
all places,
places, crops
crops
–– elimination
elimination of of grasses
grasses
in
in gomal
gomal lands;
lands; causes
causes
yield
yield losses;
losses; caused
caused bio-bio-
diversity
diversity –– grasses/
grasses/ broad
broad
leaf
leaf weeds;
weeds; usesuses as as
green
green manure
manure in in low
low land
land
rice,
rice, compost
compost
Herbicides in
crops
Herbicides
Herbicides – Chemical to kill
weeds when applied at right dose,
right time, right method of
application, without harming our
crops when it is selective.
Pre-emergence – Herbicide
applied before emergence of
weeds after sowing of crops
Post-emergence – Herbicides
applied after emergence of weeds
Herbicides
Prevents the weeds from the beginning
of the crop stage
Overcome the weed competition during
initial critical crop growth period
Can not prevent further emergence of
weeds after 45 – 50 days of sowing
Can cover large area
Economical than hand weeding
Vegetables
Use of herbicides limited, in view of labour
problem – farmers need molecules effective for
managing weeds.
Potato – Metribuzin 70 WP 0.75 kg/ha,
pendimethalin 30 EC 2.5 lit/ha or oxyfluorfen 23.5
EC 450 ml/ha (pre-em.)
Tomato – Metribuzin 70 WP 0.75 kg/ha,
pendimethalin 30 EC 2.5 lit/ha, alachlor 50 EC 2.0
to 3.0 lit/ha (pre-em.) or quizalofop-p- ethyl 5 EC
750 ml to 1.0 lit/ha (post-em. 15-20 DAP, grass
killer)
Onion (Broadcasted/transplanted)/ Garlic –
oxyfluorfen 23.5 EC 500 - 750 ml/ha, pendimethalin
30 EC 2.5 – 3.0 lit/ha, oxadiargyl 80 WP 250 g/ha or
9 EC 1000 ml/ha (pre-em.) quizalofop-p- ethyl 5 EC
750 to 1000 ml/ha (grass killer)
Peas/ French bean - pendimethalin 30 EC 2.5 lit/ha
or alachlor 50 EC 1.5 lit/ha – 3 DAS – 750 lit/ha
water
Brinjal - Pendimethalin 30 EC 2.5 lit/ha or
Butachlor 50 EC 2.0 lit/ha or Fluchloralin 45 EC
2.0 lit/ha
Carrot/ Radish/ Beet root – fluchloralin 45
EC 2.0 lit/ha or pendimethalin 30 EC 2.5
lit/ha or butachlor 50 EC 2.0 lit/ha (pre-em.)
Chilly/ Green/Bell pepper – Alachlor 50 EC
2.0 lit/ha or pendimethalin 30 EC 2.5 li/ha
(pre-em.) or quizalofop- p- ethyl 5 EC 750
ml/ha (post- em., 15-20 DAS)
Cabbage/ Cauliflower – pendimethalin 30
EC 2.5 lit/ha or fluchloralin 45 EC 2.0 lit/ha
(pre-em.)
Need for post-emergence herbicides
Difficult to control weeds – Horticultural/
Plantation crops
Spot application/ directed spray of glyphosate 41
SL 8 to 10 ml/liter or 71 SG 5.0 – 7.5 g/liter of
water + 1-2 drops of lime juice
Repeat the application once in 3 to 4 months
Apply when the weeds are young for best results
Avoid applying during rainy days
Application after cessation of rains for effective and
early drying of weeds
 Grapes

Glyphosate 41 SL 8 to 10 ml/lit water + 20 g urea + 2 drops

lime juice – direct application
During 2006-07 – GOI
Imported 6.3 million tons from 11 counties -
Australia, Russia, Canada (1.3 to 2.0 million
tons)
Five alien quarantine weeds intercepted by
Plant Protection Directorate
Wheat distributed to non-traditional wheat
growing states through PDS
States – Karnataka, Kerala, MH, TN, AP,
Gujarat, MP, Orissa, Chattisgarh, West
Bengal
New Alien Invasive weeds
Ambrosia trifida
Viola arvensis
Cynoglossum officinale (all from
Russia);
Cenchrus tribuloides
Solanum carolinense (from
Australia)
 S. carolinense L. – BSI ,

Coimbatore - Native of South –

Solanum carolinense L.
Spiny Cenchrus – observed in red

gram field – Hiriyur & Challakere

taluk

Native of North America –

Cenchrus biflorus
Ambrosia psilostachya DC (Asteraceae) – Perennial/
Western Ragweed, First record of occurrence in
India - 2012

Native of North America – USA, Canada,

 Parthenium
Ambrosia hysterophorus
psilostachya
Male flowers –
pollen allergy- causes hay
fever, rashes on the skin,
Female flowers – not
cold, asthma, headache, viable in Karnataka
drowsiness - one billion
pollens/ sq. m
 New sprouts from the
underground roots after
herbicide spray

New sprouts
along with
new
adventitious
roots
Another new weed in Bangalore
Ambrosia artemisiifolia –
Common Ragweed – annual
– in Bengaluru
Native of USA, Canada &
Mexico
Introduced to Europe, Asia,
South America, Australia, New
Zealand, Mauritius, North-East
 Ambrosia
artemisiifolia
Common Ragweed –
most allergenic weed
 Common
Ragweed – tall
with many
branches
Male flowers –
pollen allergy – one
billion pollens/ sq.
m
 Ambrosia
artemisiifolia in KR
Puram Railway yard,
Bengaluru
Parasitic weeds -depend
completely or partially on
host plants for their
nourishment and
completion of life cycle
1) Root parasite :
a) Partial root parasite : Striga spp.
b) Complete root parasite :
Orobanche spp
2) Stem parasite :
a) Partial stem parasite :
Dendrophthoe spp
b) Complete stem parasite :
Cuscuta spp
 Specific characteristics of Parasitic
weeds
• Prolofic seed production
potential
• Competitiveness and
aggressiveness
* Prolonged seed viability
• Troublesome and difficult to
control
 Orobanche spp. ( BROOMRAPE)
130 spp – wide range of host plants –
Food leguminous, Oilseed, Solanaceous
crops and Medicinal plants –
Solanaceae, Chenopoidaceae, Asteraceae

Three virulent species :

O. cernua, O. ramosa and O. aegyptiaca
In

India
O cernua – Tobacco
O. aegyptiaca – Tomato, Brinjal, Potato,
Cumin, Mustard, Plantago, Lentil
Yield loss range 35 to 95%
Lack of awareness – farmers grow host crops
in succession make the parasite to attain
serious status
TN, Kar, AP, MH, Gujarat, Rajasthan,
Haryana
Native – Southern/
Central Europe;
Host specific
complete root
parasite;
Introduced about 3
to 4 decades;
major weeds of
tobacco, tomato,
brinjal, potato;
occurs on
Parthenium;
Continuous
solanaceous crops
growing causes
Orobanche
aegyptiaca on
tomato, brinjal,
potato

Strigol, GR 24, GR-7

Orobanche emerging
from the soil nearer
to host plants

40 to 55
DAS
 Bright bluish flower, 110
florets/shoot, 600 seeds/
floret, 5-30 shoots/plant – 3.0
to 10.0 lakh seeds/ shoot
Orobanche
in Tomato
Orobanc
he in
Brinjal
 Management of Broomrape
§ Preventive, Cultural & Physical
- Use of clean seeds, Deep ploughing
- Soil solarization with 0.05 mm thick white polyethylene
sheets
- Flooding of field during germination of parasite
- Physical removal and burning
- Application of mineral oils - soybean
- Trap crops – pepper, Amaranthus, cowpea, green gram,
black gram, pigeon pea, Dhaincha
- Suitable intercrops
 Management of Broomrape
§ Chemical measures
- Soil application of analogue of Strigol, GR-24, GR-7
- Pre – emergence herbicides
- Glyphosate 0.1 to 0.2 % at 50 to 55 DAP
- Neem cake ( 150 to 200 kg / ha) in rows
- Strict quarantine to prevent spread through seeds as
done in US, Europe
- Utility- feeding to cattle – rich in protein
Cuscuta campestris
on Onion
Cuscuta on bengal gram
Management - Cuscuta
Stale seed bed technique - Cuscuta infested field plowed
2-3 times to facilitate its germination & destory
After germination, if Cuscuta do not find host for
attachment with in one week, it will die
Cuscuta campestris – lucerne/ carrot, onion – rotate
pulses with cereals
or use pendimethalin 30 EC 2.5 to 3.0 lit/ha – 3 DAS/P
 Striga spp – WITCH WEED
 Annual, propagated through seeds.
41 spp –wide distribution
 Four species are noxious :
- Striga asiatica : sorghum, bajra, maize,
sugarcane, millets, rice and grasses
- S. hermonthica : sorghum, maize and
grasses
- S. gesnerioides : cowpea, tobacco
- S. densiflora : sugarcane and cereals
Striga asiatica – sorghum,
sugarcane, maize, bajra,
grasses
Striga asiatica in sugarcane
in TN
Striga asiatica in sugarcane –
severity in TN
 Management
 Stimulants for germination of Striga -

- kinetin, zeatin, ethylene, strigol, scopolectin,

thiourea, allyl-thiourea, sulphuric acid and
sodium hypochlorite.
 Emerges 50-55 DAS of host crops
 Each shoot produces 50,000 – 75,000 seeds
 Seed dormancy 15 – 20 years
 Striga - Control measures
 Use of clean seeds
 Deep ploughing
 Uprooting and burning of Striga
shoots
 Use of resistant crops / varieties
 Catch crops : Setaria, fodder
maize
 Striga - Control measures
§Trap crops : cotton, sunflower,
cowpea, gram, red gram,
sesamum, groundnut, castor and
melons
§Inter crops : groundnut,
cowpea and maize
§Improving soil fertility through
manures and fertilizers
 Striga - Control measures
 Chemical measures :
- 2, 4 – D Na salt at 1.5 to 2.0 kg ai / ha
 Stimulants – Strigol, GR 7, GR 45,
ethylene – 0.1 to 1.0 kg / ha
 Ethylene and methyl bromide
fumigation
treatment
Suitable legislation to restrict the
movement of seeds of crops grown in
these parasite infested areas
Dendrophthoe

Flower
Mango – severely infested
 Dendrophthoe management
Lopping off or pruning of the infected
shoots
Make hole on shoot of parasite, place
cotton pad containing 1 g 2,4-D in 20ml
water or 8.0 g Cu SO4 + 1.0 g 2,4-D
Have medicinal value – nervous disorder,
hypertension, arthritis and rheumatism
Every One: PLEDGE
NO WASTAGE

 970 million people-without a meal everyday

 20,864 people die everyday due to starvation

If You are Inspired

Keep in Touch with email : kvkpatil@[Link]
 UHS,
Bagalkot

NO one can Change a

Person
ONE can be the REASON to Change a
Person