Competition of Bearded Sprangletop (Leptochloa fascicularis) with Rice (Oryza sativa)

Yields of drill-seeded paddy rice (Oryza sativaL. ‘Lebonnet’) at optimum stands of 215 to 270 plants/m2at Stuttgart, Arkansas, were reduced 9, 18, 20, and 36% by bearded sprangletop [Leptochloa fascicularis(Lam.) Gray] densities of 11, 22, 54, and 108 plants/m2, respectively. There was a linear decrease in rice grain yield of 21 kg/ha for each bearded sprangletop plant per square meter. Weed densities of 54 and 108 plants/m2reduced head-rice yields (whole milled kernels) and a density of 108 plants/m2reduced germination of rice seed. The number of bearded sprangletop panicles produced per weed plant decreased as the weed density increased.