Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn. - POACEAE - Monocotyledon

Basionym : Cynosurus indicus L.

Common name : goosegrass, crowsfoot grass, wire grass.

Botany Biology Phenology Ecology Distribution Agricultural importance Biological control Chemical control

Botany :

Description :

Terrestrial, tufted, erect herb, rooting at nodes. Roots fibrous, white or brown. Stems flat, glabrous. Nodes glabrous. Stipules absent. Leaves alternate spiral, sessile, linear, more than 2 cm long/wide, apex acute, base clasping, parallel-veined. Leaf sheath present. Ligule membranous. Flowers bisexual, grouped together in a terminal spike or panicle, sessile, green, petals not visible. Fruit a nut.

Biology :

Goose grass is an annual plant. It reproduces by seeds and vegetatively. In warm regions Eleusine indica grows and flowers at all seasons when moisture is sufficient.

Phenology :

Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

This plant loves light and is a weed problem mainly in crops grown in the warm and wet regions of the world. It settles down mainly in the rich and deep, muddy to sandy-muddy soils, well drained and being able to be compacted. It grows well in open ground and so is found in lawns, pastures and footpaths. It can stand much trampling. It is found in waste places and roadsides but prospers on arable land. It is present also in damp marshlands and is often most vigorous along irrigation field borders and canals.

Distribution :

Pan-tropical and subtropical.

Agricultural importance :

This weed is a major problem in almost all forms of agriculture between the tropics. In India, E. indica is a principal weed infesting cultivated soils of upland rice and cotton and vegetable farming’s.

Biological control :

Natural enemies restricted to the genus Eleusine might well be considered for biological control of E. indica except in India or other regions where finger millet (E. coracana) is an important cereal. E. indica is reported to be attacked by more than 50 insects, nematodes, fungi, bacteria and viruses.

Chemical control :

In India, post-emergence application of 2_4-D at 500 g.I/ha or pre-emergence application of butachlor at 1.5 kg a.I/ha, Anilophos at 400 g/ha, Pretilachlor 1.0 kg/ha. In Pakistan, pre-emergence or pre-incorporated use of atrazine (Aatrex), diuron (Karmex), metolachlor (Dual gold) or pendimethalin (Stomp) may fully wipe it out in summer crops.

References :
-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.
-Galinato M., Moody K., Piggin C. M. 1999. Upland rice weeds of South and Southeast Asia. IRRI. Philippines.
-Häfliger E., Scholz H. 1980. Grass Weeds 2. Documenta Ciba-Geigy. Switzerland.
-Nayyar M. M., Ashiq M. and Ahmad J. 2001. Manual on Punjab weeds (Part II). Directorate of Agronomy. Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad Pakistan.
-Waterhouse D. F. 1994. Biological control of weeds: Southeast Asian prospects. ACIAR Monograph No. 26, 302 pp.

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