Unraveling the Competitive Dynamics: Effects of Jungle Rice (Echinochloa colona L.) Density on Maize (Zea mays L.) Productivity and Quality
Unraveling the Competitive Dynamics: Effects of Jungle Rice (Echinochloa colona L.) Density on Maize (Zea mays L.) Productivity and Quality
Sheheryar1 and Iqtidar Hussain2*
ABSTRACT
Maize (Zea mays L.) is a globally significant cereal crop, but its productivity is often constrained by weed competition, particularly from jungle rice (Echinochloa colona L.). This study examines the impact of varying densities of jungle rice on maize growth, yield, and quality to identify sustainable weed management strategies. The experiment was conducted at Gomal University, Pakistan, and employed a randomized complete block design with six jungle rice density treatments (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 plants/m²). The results revealed that increasing the jungle rice density significantly reduced the maize plant height, grain yield, 1000-grain weight, and leaf area index, whereas lower densities (≤10 plants m-²) had minimal effects. At the highest density (25 plants/m²), the maize yield and grain protein content were reduced by 59.68% and 13.05%, respectively, compared with those of the control. These findings underscore the competitive threat posed by jungle rice and highlight the necessity of maintaining weed densities below 10 plants m-² to optimize maize productivity and resource use efficiency. This study provides actionable insights for integrated weed management, contributing to sustainable agricultural practices and enhanced profitability in maize-based systems.
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