EFFECT OF VARIOUS WATER REGIMES AND HERBICIDES ON THE RE-SPROUTING ABILITY OF COMMON REED RHIZOME FRAGMENTS

Abstract Two separate experiments were conducted to examine the effect of various water regimes and herbicides on re-sprouting-ability of common reed rhizome fragments. Each experiment was laid-out in completely randomized design (CRD) having water levels and herbicides as treatments, replicated thrice. Five fragments of fresh rhizomes with active buds were placed in the soil in each pot for investigating the effect of various water regimes on re-sprouting of common reed. Sprouting were examined up to two months. While in the 2nd experiment post emergence herbicides were applied to the re-sprouts to check the efficacy of various herbicides against common reed management. Various water regimes affected the re-sprouting ability of common reed rhizomes. The lowest sprouting (6.66%) were noted for T8 (control) where no water was applied except at the time of placing the rhizomes in the pots, while maximum (96.66%) sprouting observed within (T3) water was applied from 5th to 7th weeks (5 times). While in the 2nd experiment herbicides significantly affected the re-sprouting ability, growth and biomass production of common reed and minimum re-sprouting and shoot biomass (3.33% and 6.00 g), respectively, were noted for fenoxaprop-p-ethyl as compared to control treatment (90.00% and 38.67 g) where no herbicide had been applied. Therefore it is concluded from the results that on either side from water regime T5 the re-sprouting ability decreases and buds mortality increases, which clearly indicates that common reed needs slightly moist soil to start the re-sprouting and do not need standing water during that period, while after re-sprouting it do needs water i.e. from 3rd weed onwards and dry conditions afterwards (T6-T8) cannot be tolerated. Therefore flooding common reed after cutting [1]for three weeks of draining and keeping them dry for 8 weeks can be used as cultural control method for common reed management, while in case of herbicides fenoxaprop-p-ethyl gives desirable results to control the common reed and to stop further infestation.