Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control

1. Unit 3: Striga • After completing Units in this Lesson, you have learned to answer: • 1. What is Striga? • 2. How striga affects chili crop? • 3. What cultural methods you practice to control Striga? • 4. What chemical methods help in controlling Striga? • 5. What good husbandry practices you will adopt to control Striga in chili crop? Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper

2. Unit 3: Striga Striga is a very important weed in chili pepper cultivation. Unlike other weeds, which compete for water and nutrients Striga, as a root parasite, literally sucks the life out of chili pepper plants. In doing so, growth is stunted and yields are greatly reduced. Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper

3. Unit 3: Striga Striga has been given the common name of "witchweed" because of attaching to the roots and robbing the host of water and nutrients. Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper

4. Unit 3: Striga There are different species of Striga. The Striga found in India is most often has white flowers. But, Striga plants with yellow, pink or purple flowers are also common. Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper White flowered Striga

5. Unit 3: Striga Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper Pink flowered Striga Mauve flowered Striga Red flowered Striga

6. Unit 3: Striga Depending upon the extent of infestation, 30-60% of reduction in grain yield can occur. Striga infestation is most severe in low moisture and low fertility soils. Thousands of very small seeds are produced by a single plant of Striga. These seeds can remain dormant but viable for many years. Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper Small Striga seeds compared to sorghum and maize

7. Unit 3: Striga Striga plants emerge from the soil adjacent to chili pepper plants and produce many upright green stems with pink to white flowers. Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper

8. Unit 3: Striga Flowering can begin within 2 weeks and seeds begin to mature 2-4 weeks later. The seed capsules may contain 400-500 seeds and a single plant may produce 20,000 seeds. Mature seeds are dispersed by wind, rainwater, cultivation, soil on tools, or even grazing and manure fertilization. Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper

9. Unit 3: Striga Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Striga Life-Cycle Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper

10. Unit 3: Striga Control measures Physical control: Hand pulling at too early stage may break the shoot and reduce the rapid growth. Sparse infestation should be hand pulled shortly before flowering to prevent build up of seed. Such hand pulling should continue through to harvest and beyond so long as flowering is occurring. Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper

11. Unit 3: Striga Control measures Cultural control: It has been noted that chili pepper plant shading can restrict Striga growth when generous soil fertilizer is applied. In areas of high rainfall, factors such as high plant populations, recommended fertility levels, and good weed control encourage lush crop growth and shading in spite of Striga parasitism. This is not feasible in moisture stressed rainfed areas. Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper

12. Unit 3: Striga Control measures Cultural control: Crop rotation should be practiced with trap crops which stimulate Striga seeds to germinate without themselves being parasitized. Crops claimed to be effective include: cotton, sunflower, groundnut, castor, dolichos bean, and linseed. Unfortunately once a severe infestation has developed, it may take many years to reduce Striga population in the field to non-damaging level. Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper

13. Unit 3: Striga Control measures Chemical control: As Striga is a broadleaf plant, pre-plant herbicides such as Atrazine, Goal, and Flex show some effect though not efficient enough to be justified. Post-emergence use of 2,4-D is effective when sprayed on the Striga leaves. Though low in cost, chili pepper is vulnerable to stalk twisting and lodging if 2,4-D is sprayed into the leaf whorl. Spraying should only be done trained labor and cautioned to the hazards. Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper

14. Unit 3: Striga Control measures In summary, control of Striga infestation is difficult and requires an integrated approach. Non-host crops must be rotated (for two years in heavily infested fields) with resistant chili pepper varieties. Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper

15. Unit 3: Striga Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper Abutilon indicum Indian mallow

16. Unit 3: Striga Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper Alysicarpus sp. One-leaf clover

17. Unit 3: Striga Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper Argemone mexicana Mexican poppy

18. Unit 3: Striga Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper Celosia argentina White cock's comb

19. Unit 3: Striga Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper Borreriaarticularis Button plant

20. Unit 3: Striga Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper Cleome sp. Wild spider flower

21. Unit 3: Striga Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper Digeraarvensis Kundra

22. Unit 3: Striga Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper Corchorusolitorius Jew's mallow

23. Unit 3: Striga Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper Euphorbia hirta Spurge Euphorbia purviflora

24. Unit 3: Striga Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper Portulaca pilosa Portulaca oleracea Common purslane

25. Unit 3: Striga Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Vernonia cinerea Little iron weed Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper

26. Unit 3: Striga Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper Leucas aspera Dronapushpi

27. Unit 3: Striga Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper Xanthium strumarium Cocklebur

28. Unit 3: Striga Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper Amaranthus spp. Pigweed

29. Unit 3: Striga Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper Anagallis arvensis Scarlet Pimpernel

30. Unit 3: Striga Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper Bidense pilosa Spanish needle

31. Unit 3: Striga Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper Mollugo verticillata Carpet-weed

32. Unit 3: Striga Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper Commelina spp. Benghal dayflower

33. Unit 3: Striga Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper Eclipta alba Eclipta prostrata False daisy

34. Unit 3: Striga Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper Ipomea spp. Morning glory

35. Unit 3: Striga Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper Tridax procumbence Tridax daisy, wild daisy

36. Unit 3: Striga Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper Chloris gayana Feather Finger grass Chloris barbata Swollen Finger grass

37. Unit 3: Striga Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper Digitaria sanguinalis Crabgrass

38. Unit 3: Striga Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper Dactyloctenium aegyptium Crowfootgrass

39. Unit 3: Striga Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper Echinocloa spp. Barnyard grass

40. Unit 3: Striga Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper Paspalum distichum. Water couch

41. Unit 3: Striga Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper Eleusine indica Goose grass

42. Unit 3: Striga Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper Eragrostis spp. Lovegrass

43. Unit 3: Striga Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper Setaria spp. Foxtail

44. Unit 3: Striga Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper Cyperus rotundus Purple nut sedge

45. Unit 3: Striga Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper Cyperus compressus Nut sedge

46. Unit 3: Striga Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper Cyperus defformis Nut sedge

47. Unit 3: Striga Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper Cyperus esculantus Yellow nut sedge

48. Unit 3: Striga Module IX: Weeds and Weed Control Lesson 1: Weeds and Weed Competition in Chili Pepper Cynodon dactylon Bermuda grass