N P P C

�ལ༌ཡོངས༌�ོ་ཤིང༌�ང༌�ོབས༌�ེ་བ།National Plant Protection Centre

Department of AgricultureSemtokha: Thimphu

aspalum P disticgum POACEAE

Weeds, leaflets 6

Produced by:

Weeds and Vertebrate Unit

National Plant Protection Centre,

Semtokha, Thimphu

References:

Weeds of Rice in Asia by Carton,B.P., Mortimer,M., Hill,J.E., and Johnson,D.EWeeds of Bhutan by Chris Parker

Contact us:

National Plant Protection Centre

Department of Agriculture

Ministry of Agriculture and Forests

Semtokha, Thimphu

P O Box: 670

Tel: +975-02-351016/351665

Fax: +975-351656

Email: nppcsemtokha@gmail.com

Website: www.nppc.gov.bt

aspalum P

disticgum Jagarampa (Dzongkha)Knot grass (common name)

Family: POACEAE

Biology

Growth habit: Creping branched stolons, erect stem; up to 0.6 m

Description: It is a perennial grass with an extensive but quite shallow rhizome system, forming prostrate mats. Flower heads, on the stems up to 20 cm, consists of a pair of racemes each 2-3 cm long. Spikelet’s are about 3 mm long.

Life cycle: Perennial

Competitiveness: High

Method of reproduction: Seeds, stolons, and Rhizomes (High capacity for asexual reproduction)

Dormancy: Requires cold to germinate; apical and bud dominance in new stems

Ecology

Found in: Low land, upland; commonly found in ditches and wet places.

Elevation: Up to 1,500 m.a.s.l.

Control management

Cultural control: Through land preparation; early continuous flooding and deep burial inhibits the growth. Tillage during dry season to desiccate rhizomes.

Soil solarisation also helps in reducing the growth of Paspalum distichum. The plant is sensitive to shade and higher crop seeding rate, closure distance of transplanting, and use of taller, more competitive cultivars are also good control measures.

Vegetative stage

Flowering stage