The Effect of Different Concentration of Glyphosate on the Growth of Coconut Seedlings

Senarathne, S.H.S.,Jayaneththi, J.K.D.S.W.,Premarathne, K.P.P. The Korean Society of Weed ScienceThe Turfgrass So 2012 Weed&Turfgrass Science Vol.32 No.3

Coconut (Cocos nucifera L) is one of the predominant plantation crops in Sri Lankan economy which is known to have existed for over thousands of years. During the past decades coconut production had been reduced by a significant quantity. The usage of poor quality planting materials is a major reason for the low coconut production. Thus much attention needs to be paid in coconut nurseries. Weed management is a critical management practice in the nursery. Though glyphosate application is becoming popular in nurseries it can affect weeds as well as coconut seedlings growth. Therefore the effects of glyphosate were evaluated by determining the growth of shoot and root of coconut seedlings. Poly bag nursery was prepared and three treatments were used. Treatments were no glyphosate and manual weeding ($T_1$), application of glyphosate 1.08 ai kg $ha^{-1}$ at 2 monthly interval ($T_2$) and application of glyphosate 1.44 ai kg $ha^{-1}$ at 2 monthly interval ($T_3$). Application of glyphosate at early stage of seedling growth had a no significant effect on growth parameters tested. However, the concentrations of glyphosate negatively affected numbers, volumes and dry weights of secondary, tertiary and quaternary roots at the latter stage of seedling growth. The leaf area and the height of seedling were significantly reduced by the highest concentration of glyphosate. Among the growth parameters tested, seedling girth and shoot dry weight were not affected by the application of glyphosate. These results revealed that the usage of glyphosate at both concentrations negatively affected root growth of coconut seedlings. Based on these results, the both concentration levels of glyphosate should be applied to coconut nurseries before sprouting the seed nuts.

Effects of Weed Interference and Starter Fertilizer on Subsequent Seed Germination and Vigour of Soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.)

Mohammadi, G.R.,Amiri, F. The Korean Society of Weed ScienceThe Turfgrass So 2012 Weed&Turfgrass Science Vol.32 No.1

The study was conducted to investigate the effect of weed interference and starter fertilizer on subsequent soybean seed quality at the Agricultural Research Farm and Laboratory of Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran. Two factorial experiment was laid-outon a randomized complete block design with four replications. First factor was starter fertilizer levels (0 and 25 kg $ha^{-1}$) applied in the forms of monoammonium phosphate, the second factor was different weed interference periods consisted of five initial weed-free periods (in which, plots were kept free of weeds for 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 days after crop emergence (DAE) and then weeds were allowed to grow until harvest) and five initial weed-infested periods (in which, weeds were allowed to grow for 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60DAE, after which the plots were kept free of weeds until harvest). Full season weedy condition reduced 100-seed weight, seed germination percentage and seedling dry weight by 25.9, 13.3 and 22.5%, respectively and increased mean germination time and seed electrical conductivity by 55.8 and 24.3%, respectively as compared with full season weed-free control. However, the traits under study were not significantly influenced when field was kept free of weeds for at least 45 DAE (R1) or weedy condition was continued for less than 30 DAE (V8). There was a significant and negative correlation between weed biomass and seed weight (r = -0.93), so that when weed free condition was less than 45 DAE or weed infested period was continued for at least 30 DAE, soybean plants produced wrinkled and underdeveloped seeds with lower weights and qualities. Moreover, soybean seed quality reduction due to weed interference was more evident when starter fertilizer was applied and weeds interfered with soybean from the beginning of the growing season. Information from the present study is beneficial in soybean seed production systems and where farmers use the harvested seeds for the following planting.

Weed Population Dynamics under Climatic Change

Bir, Md. Shahidul Haque,Eom, Min Yong,Uddin, Md. Romij,Park, Tae Seon,Kang, Hang Won,Kim, Do Soon,Park, Kee Woong The Korean Society of Weed ScienceThe Turfgrass So 2014 Weed & Turfgrass Science Vol.3 No.3

This paper provides some of the scientific background on how projected environmental conditions could affect weeds and weed management in crops. Elevated $CO_2$ levels may have positive effects on crop competitiveness with $C_4$ weeds, but these are generally outnumbered by $C_3$ species in weed populations. Moreover, higher temperatures and drought will favor $C_4$ over $C_3$ plants. The implementation of climate change adaptation technologies, such as drought-tolerant germplasm and water-saving irrigation regimes, will have consequences for crop-weed competition. Rainfed production systems are thought to be most vulnerable to the direct effects of climate change and are likely to face increased competition from $C_4$ and parasitic weeds. Biotic stress-tolerant crop cultivars to be developed for these systems should encompass weed competitiveness and parasitic-weed resistance. In irrigated systems, indirect effects will be more important and weed management strategies should be diversified to lessen dependency on herbicides and mechanical control, and be targeted to perennial rhizomatous ($C_3$) weeds. Water-saving production methods that replace a weed-suppressive floodwater layer by intermittent or continuous periods of aerobic conditions necessitate additional weed management strategies to address the inherent increases in weed competition. Thus, climatic conditions have a great effect on weed population dynamics all over the world.

Germination Characteristic of Rhizomes of Major Monocotyledonous Weeds in Coconut Plantations of Sri Lanka

Senarathne, S.H.S.,Bandara, D.M.B.M.,Sangakkara, U.R. The Korean Society of Weed ScienceThe Turfgrass So 2012 Weed&Turfgrass Science Vol.32 No.3

Panicum maximum, Panicum repens, Imperata cylindrica, Pennisetum polystachion and Cyperus rotundus are five rhizomatous grass weeds that exist and are problematic in the coconut lands of Sri Lanka. Rhizomatous weeds are the most difficult to control because of their vegetative reproduction by underground propagules. Therefore chemical and biological techniques have failed to control these weeds to acceptable levels. Experiments were conducted to investigate the impact of depth of burial, duration of sun drying or duration of air drying rhizomes of the selected weed species on germination. Depth of burial reduced germination of all species. Burying rhizomes at depths less than 10 cm inhibited germination of P. maximum and P. polystachion. Burying depths below 30~40 cm inhibited germination of all species. Sun drying or air drying rhizomes for durations less than 5 days inhibited germination of P. maximum and P. polystachion. Germinations of all species were inhibited by sun drying rhizomes for 15 days or air drying rhizomes for 20 days. Sun drying of rhizomes of all species for five days reduced the moisture content to a greater extent than air drying. The results indicated that burying rhizomes at the depthsbelow 30~40 cm, sun drying rhizomes for durations beyond 15 days or air drying rhizomes for durations beyond 20 days would be effective in controlling germination of these species. The investigations of the experiments also suggest that keeping rhizomes on the soil surface without burying, sun drying rhizomes or air drying rhizomes for durations of 5~15 days would produce weak plants.

Weed Control in the Tropic Zone

Mercado, Beatriz L. The Korean Society of Weed ScienceThe Turfgrass So 1984 Weed&Turfgrass Science Vol.4 No.2

Newly Recorded Noctuid Pest, Leucapamea askoldis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) from Amur Silver Grass, Miscanthus sacchariflorus

Jung, Young Hak,You, Eun Ju,Ahn, Jong-Woong,Park, Jung-Joon,Choo, Young- Moo,Choo, Ho Yul,Lee, Dong Woon The Korean Society of Weed ScienceThe Turfgrass So 2017 Weed & Turfgrass Science Vol.6 No.4

Amur silver grass, Miscanthus sacchariflorus is one of the promising biofuel weeds. A damage of noctuid pest, Leucapamea askoldis was firstly observed from Amur silver grass in Hwasun silver grass plantation during the survey of insect pests of Amur silver grass in Iksan, Hwasun, and Sancheong plantation areas in Korea. The host of L. askoldis was not known yet in Korea. The L. askoldis damage was observed as larval feeding on newly grown shoots and roots of M. sacchariflorus close to soil surface from early May in 2013. Investigated larval density was $1.6{\pm}1.1per\;m^2$ on April 4 and damage rate of shoots was $0.8{\pm}0.4%$ on May 4, 2013. The larvae bore into shoots of M. sacchariflorus and feed on the inside of plant. The damaged shoots are easily pulled out and distinguished by the boring hole on the shoots. L. askoldis was potential insect pest in M. sacchariflorus plantation areas.

Growth of Zoysiagrass and Seashore Paspalum on Volcano Eruption Sand and Clayey Soil with Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers in Indonesia

Rahayu, Rahayu,Zuamah, Hidayatuz,Yang, Geun-Mo,Choi, Joon-Soo The Korean Society of Weed ScienceThe Turfgrass So 2014 Weed & Turfgrass Science Vol.3 No.3

This study was carried out to determine the possible use of volcano eruption sand at Merapi mountain area compared with clayey soil, alfisol as turfgrass growing media. Indonesia has abundant source of eruption sand and clayey soil. Native zoysiagrass (Z. matrella) was collected from Sleman district and seashore paspalum (P. vaginatum) from Solo region. The experimental plots were treated with both organic and inorganic fertilizers. Zoysiagrass and seashore paspalum can grow on the mixture of eruption volcano sand and alfisol soil. Fertilizers application increased turf color, surface coverage rate and recovery rate of turfgrass. While fertilizer treated alfisol have no effect on the length and dry weight of zoysiagrass root. Mixing of volcano eruption sand on growing media resulted in longer root length, higher shoot dry weight of zoysiagrass than in alfisol soil. Type of fertilizer affected the pH, soil organic matter, total N, available P, available K and electrical conductivity of sand and alfisol after cultivation. Similarly to zoysiagrass, the recovery of seashore paspalum was increased by application of fertilizer, even the inorganic fertilizer showed faster recovery than organic fertilizer. Surface coverage of seashore paspalum was faster than that of zoysiagrass with or without fertilizer.

Pesticide Risk and Benefit Assessment

Birtley, Robin D.N. The Korean Society of Weed ScienceThe Turfgrass So 1993 Weed&Turfgrass Science Vol.13 No.4

The benefits of pesticides in improving the food quantity and quality requirements for an increasing world population are significant, and they can be described in agronomic, economic and social terms. The risks are assessed from the hazards which are likely to occur in practice ; the hazards are defined by the toxicity of the pesticide to non-target organisms at various exposure levels. There are ways of reducing the risks (mainly by reducing exposure in practice) and improving the benefits of pesticides ; these are known as risk management and benefit management respectively. The overall risk-benefit assessment is facilitated if each component can be expressed in financial terms, but it must be made nationally or locally on a sound technical basis against the prevailing agronomic, socio-economic and political circumstances. Paraquat is used to illustrate the risk-benefit assessment process in general terms, and the conclusion is that the benefits greatly outweigh the risks. It is important to keep the risks of pesticides in perspective with those associated with other naturally occurring chemicals in our diet and with other everyday aspects of life. In an overall context, the pesticide risk is small.

Late Fall Nitrogen Application and Turf Cover for Zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica) Spring Green-up

Oh, Jun-Suk,Lee, Yu-Jin,Lee, Sang-Kook The Korean Society of Weed ScienceThe Turfgrass So 2015 Weed & Turfgrass Science Vol.4 No.4

The use of zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.) in the transition zone is limited because of a lack of cold hardiness although zoysiagrass has many advantages compared to other warm-season and cool-season grasses. Late-fall N fertilization is often applied for darker green color of turfgrass in early spring and more extensive root growth without rapid top growth. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of late fall N application and turf cover for zoysiagrass spring green-up. Clear polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film was used for turf cover. The amount of N applied were 5 and $10g\;N\;m^{-2}$ for the low and high N rate treatments, respectively. Covered zoysiagrass had greater turfgrass color and quality in early spring than non-covered zoysiagrass. The high N rate had 0.6 to 2.3 greater turfgrass quality than the low N rate on 7 of 9 rating dates. Slow-release N as late fall fertilization is more effective for turfgrass color and quality than fast-release N in spring. Turf cover could reduce the period of yellow zoysiagrass, and the earlier time of spring green-up could be advanced by increasing turfgrass quality and growth of zoysiagrass.

Various Turf Covers for Kentucky bluegrass Growth and Spring Green-up

Lee, Sang-Kook The Korean Society of Weed ScienceThe Turfgrass So 2013 Weed & Turfgrass Science Vol.2 No.3

Winter turfgrass injury is one of the critical problems of many golf courses in Korea. Turfgrass loss from freezing injury due to low temperature leads to many types of damages including weed invasion, increased herbicide cost, increased soil erosion, and expensive re-establishment. Although Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) which is the most widely used among cool-season grasses in Korea is well known as cold tolerance species, freezing injuries to Kentucky bluegrass during winter are often found. Protecting the turfgrass crown is necessary to recover from low temperature stress in winter because shoots and roots can be recovered from the crown. Turf covers may protect the crowns from direct low temperatures and desiccation. Six different turf covers were installed to cover Kentucky bluegrass during a period of low temperatures. Turf covers had positive effects for spring green-up of Kentucky bluegrass based on the study. Applying any type of turf covers on Kentucky bluegrass resulted in an increase average and minimum temperature compared to the uncovered plot. Among turf covers, clear PVC film without holes produced the longest root length and the highest turfgrass quality.