Common name : Johnsongrass, aleppo milletgrass
Common name in Hindi : Baru
Common name in Urdu : Baru
Bangla English Hindi Urdu
Diagnostic characters
Biology
Ecology and distribution
Nuisance
Weed control
Botany
Uses/Remark
References
Sorghum halepense is an agressive stout perennial grass, erect, spreading by long creeping rhizomes. Culms are erect, geniculate and rooting at nodes. The ribbed leaf sheaths, conspicuous midrib, the large and purplish panicle are distinguishing characteristics of this species.
S. halepense is a very heavy seed producter, this being the principal means of distribution; however, its superior ability to compete with other plants and its persistence in the face of the most intensive control measures surely result from the long, very vigorous, and highly adaptable rizhome-root system which develops below the soil surface. In general the system is made up of primary, secondary and terciary rhizomes. The primary structures are alive at the begining of the growing season, providing buds for renewed growth. Extensions from the main rhizomes become the secondary structures which surface and give rise to new plants. Tertiary rhizomes, which grow out from the base of the plant, at flowering time, are large, usually go deep into the soil, and usually continue to grow until the advent of cold or dry wheather. These tertiary rhizomes produce new plants in the following season.
It is a native of the Mediterranean region has now become established as a formidable weed in most of the agricultural areas of the world. Its range as a weed extends from lat 55° N to lat 45° S. It seems best adapted to the warm, humid, summer rainfall areas in the subtropics and not so well adapted to areas which are strictly tropical.
The weedines of S. halepense it is due in great part to its adaptations for vigourous growth and for longevity. Most strains, however, quickly become sodbound, often within 3 years, and the plants must be broken up to re-establish the stand. This disturbance and tearing of rhizomes into small fragments, when practiced in infested fields of row crops, may very well result in the establishment of greater populations of the weed.
It is a principal weed of corn, cotton, sugarcane, and other crops from tropical to temperate climates. On fertile soils the weed will spread to other agricultural crops and be very difficult to eradicate.
In contrast, in Pakistan, it is regarded as palatable forage when properly managed and controlled for pasture or hay. Although the weed produces excellent hay, it may, under certain conditions, accumulate prussic acid (hydrocyanic acid) in its leaves and stems. It may then be lethal to cattle grazing in pastures where it is growing.
- Chemical
Deep ploughing, Glyphosate at 1.0% under non cropped area.
In Punjab region of Pakistan, it is hardly controlled only through integrated weed management practices.
1) Pre-emergence herbicides like Stomp 330 E at 3-3.75 l/ha and Dual gold 960 EC at 2 l/ha may be used against seed germination.
2) Gramoxone 20 EC or Basta 20 SL each at 2.5 l/ha may be used in non cropped area or along the water courses. Round up 49 SL is another effective herbicide for cleaning of non-cropped area.
3) Sundrying of it rhizomes in the month of May June, may reduce its infestation.
Habit
Tufted perennial grass, spreading by long creeping rhizomes.
Roots
Adventitious roots evolving from deep rhizomes.
Stem
In addition to underground rhizomes, erect, stout stems, 0.5 to 3 m tall, arising from extensible creeping scaly rhizomes.
Leaves
Leaf sheath ribbed, smooth, or often hairy within at the junction with the blade, often with a waxy secretion at the base. Ligule short, papery, hairy mouth. Blades smooth or rough on the edges, many nerved, with conspicuous midribs, 20 to 60cm long, 0.5 to 5cm wide.
Inflorescence
Panicle large, pyramidal, purplish, hairy, 15 to 50cm long, often somewhat contracted after flowering, primary branches up to 25cm long and then branched again; racemes 1 to 2.5cm; spikelets usually in pair although toward the tip of the inflorescence they may occur in threes; when spikelets in pairs, the lower is usually sessile and the and the upper pedicelled, narrow, long and stamen-bearing; when spikelets in threes, one (usually the middle) is sessile and perfect, the other two are pedicelled and staminate; sessile spikelet 4 to 5mm long, green; pedicelled spikelet 5.5mm long; callus sparsely bearded; lower glume silkily hairy; upper lemma unawned, sometimes awned in cultivated forms.
Fruit
Grain nearly 3mm long, oval, reddish brown, glossy, marked with fine lines on the surface.
- Holm L. G., Plucknett D. L., Pancho J. V., Herberger J. P. 1991. The world’s worst weeds. Distribution and Biology. East-West Center by the University Press. Hawaii.
- Nayyar M. M., Ashiq M. and Ahmad J. 2001. Manual on Punjab weeds (Part I). Directorate of Agronomy. Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad Pakistan.
- Häfliger E., Scholz H. 1980. Grass Weeds 2. Documenta Ciba-Geigy. Switzerland.
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