Abstract
Speargrass, Imperata cylindrica (L.) Raeuschel, is a serious weed, threatening crop productivity in smallholder farms in West Africa. Since the use of more effective practices such as deep tillage and chemical control is beyond the means of resource-poor farmers who carry out most agricultural activities in this region, low-input alternative technology needs to be developed. Field studies were conducted during the 1993/1994 and 1995/1996 growing seasons to investigate the influence of three velvetbean accessions and two levels of fertilizer on the control of speargrass during the year of cover crop planting and one year later. The velvetbean accessions in 1993 were: Mucuna cochinchinensis and M. pruriens var. utilis. In 1995, M. pruriens var. IRZ was included in the study. M. cochinchinensis in 1993 and M. pruriens var. IRZ in 1995 had the highest ground cover rating early in the growing seasons whereas M. pruriens var. utilis had the lowest ground cover rating in both years. Inorganic fertilizer at30 kg ha- 1 each of N, P and K increased velvetbean ground cover by 2-22%, with M. cochinchinensis (14-22%) and M. pruriens var. IRZ (5-15%) showing the highest response in 1993 and 1995, respectively. M. pruriens var. utilis showed the least response in both years. After one growing season M. pruriens var. utilis, M. cochinchinensis, and M. pruriens var. IRZ reduced speargrass shoot density by 50, 76, and 68%, and shoot dry matter by 72, 92, and 79%, respectively. Fertilizer reduced speargrass growth in velvetbean plots, while the opposite occurred in plots without velvetbean. Velvetbean residue effectively suppressed speargrass until the beginning of the subsequent cropping season. Maize grown 1 year after velvetbean required 50% less weeding than plots without velvetbean. Maize shade reduced speargrass shoot growth by 30-80% but regrowth of the weed occurred 4 weeks before maize harvest. Maize grain yield was higher in plots previously seeded to velvetbean than in plots without velvetbean. Speargrass shoot density and dry matter were negatively correlated with maize grain yield (r =-0.42 and r =-0.32, respectively, P < 0.01). Although velvetbean may effectively reduce speargrass during the year of establishment and the subsequent cropping phase it has a limited effect on rhizomes and, as such, does not provide a long term control.
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Claims 20
Claim · model-written summary
M. cochinchinensis had the highest early ground cover in 1993 and showed a 14-22% fertilizer response.
- Taxon
- M. cochinchinensis
Mucuna cochinchinensise0 - Treatment
- Inorganic fertilizer at30 kg ha- 1 each of N, P and Ke1
- Outcome
- ground cover ratinge0
- Direction
- higheste0
- Value
- 14-22%e1
- Qualifier
- 1993e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“M. cochinchinensis in 1993 and M. pruriens var. IRZ in 1995 had the highest ground cover rating early in the growing seasons”
e1“Inorganic fertilizer at30 kg ha- 1 each of N, P and K increased velvetbean ground cover by 2-22%, with M. cochinchinensis (14-22%) and M. pruriens var. IRZ (5-15%) showing the highest response in 1993 and 1995, respectively.”
Claim · model-written summary
M. pruriens var. IRZ had the highest early ground cover in 1995 and showed a 5-15% fertilizer response.
- Taxon
- M. pruriens var. IRZ
.jpg?width=60)
Mucuna pruriense0 - Treatment
- Inorganic fertilizer at30 kg ha- 1 each of N, P and Ke1
- Outcome
- ground cover ratinge0
- Direction
- higheste0
- Value
- 5-15%e1
- Qualifier
- 1995e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
.jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“M. cochinchinensis in 1993 and M. pruriens var. IRZ in 1995 had the highest ground cover rating early in the growing seasons”
e1“Inorganic fertilizer at30 kg ha- 1 each of N, P and K increased velvetbean ground cover by 2-22%, with M. cochinchinensis (14-22%) and M. pruriens var. IRZ (5-15%) showing the highest response in 1993 and 1995, respectively.”
Claim · model-written summary
M. pruriens var. utilis had the lowest ground cover and least fertilizer response in both years.
- Taxon
- M. pruriens var. utilisMucuna pruriens var. utilise0
- Outcome
- ground cover ratinge0
- Direction
- loweste0
- Qualifier
- least response in both yearse1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“M. pruriens var. utilis had the lowest ground cover rating in both years.”
e1“M. pruriens var. utilis showed the least response in both years.”
Claim · model-written summary
Fertilizer increased velvetbean ground cover by 2-22%.
- Taxon
- velvetbeanMucuna pruriens var. utilise0
- Treatment
- Inorganic fertilizer at30 kg ha- 1 each of N, P and Ke0
- Outcome
- ground covere0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 2-22%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Inorganic fertilizer at30 kg ha- 1 each of N, P and K increased velvetbean ground cover by 2-22%”
Claim · model-written summary
M. pruriens var. utilis reduced speargrass shoot density by 50% after one season.
- Taxon
- speargrasse0
- Treatment
- M. pruriens var. utilise0
- Interactor
- M. pruriens var. utilisMucuna pruriens var. utilise0other
- Outcome
- speargrass shoot densitye0
- Direction
- reducede0
- Value
- 50e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“After one growing season M. pruriens var. utilis, M. cochinchinensis, and M. pruriens var. IRZ reduced speargrass shoot density by 50, 76, and 68%, and shoot dry matter by 72, 92, and 79%, respectively.”
Claim · model-written summary
M. cochinchinensis reduced speargrass shoot density by 76% after one season.
- Taxon
- speargrasse0
- Treatment
- M. cochinchinensise0
- Interactor
- M. cochinchinensisMucuna cochinchinensise0other
- Outcome
- speargrass shoot densitye0
- Direction
- reducede0
- Value
- 76e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“After one growing season M. pruriens var. utilis, M. cochinchinensis, and M. pruriens var. IRZ reduced speargrass shoot density by 50, 76, and 68%, and shoot dry matter by 72, 92, and 79%, respectively.”
Claim · model-written summary
M. pruriens var. IRZ reduced speargrass shoot density by 68% after one season.
- Taxon
- speargrasse0
- Treatment
- M. pruriens var. IRZe0
- Interactor
- M. pruriens var. IRZMucuna pruriense0other
- Outcome
- speargrass shoot densitye0
- Direction
- reducede0
- Value
- 68%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“After one growing season M. pruriens var. utilis, M. cochinchinensis, and M. pruriens var. IRZ reduced speargrass shoot density by 50, 76, and 68%, and shoot dry matter by 72, 92, and 79%, respectively.”
Claim · model-written summary
M. pruriens var. utilis reduced speargrass shoot dry matter by 72%.
- Taxon
- speargrasse0
- Treatment
- M. pruriens var. utilise0
- Interactor
- M. pruriens var. utilisMucuna pruriens var. utilise0other
- Outcome
- shoot dry mattere0
- Direction
- reducede0
- Value
- 72e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“After one growing season M. pruriens var. utilis, M. cochinchinensis, and M. pruriens var. IRZ reduced speargrass shoot density by 50, 76, and 68%, and shoot dry matter by 72, 92, and 79%, respectively.”
Claim · model-written summary
M. cochinchinensis reduced speargrass shoot dry matter by 92%.
- Taxon
- speargrasse0
- Treatment
- M. cochinchinensise0
- Interactor
- M. cochinchinensisMucuna cochinchinensise0other
- Outcome
- shoot dry mattere0
- Direction
- reducede0
- Value
- 92e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“After one growing season M. pruriens var. utilis, M. cochinchinensis, and M. pruriens var. IRZ reduced speargrass shoot density by 50, 76, and 68%, and shoot dry matter by 72, 92, and 79%, respectively.”
Claim · model-written summary
M. pruriens var. IRZ reduced speargrass shoot dry matter by 79%.
- Taxon
- speargrasse0
- Treatment
- M. pruriens var. IRZe0
- Interactor
- M. pruriens var. IRZMucuna pruriense0other
- Outcome
- shoot dry mattere0
- Direction
- reducede0
- Value
- 79%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“After one growing season M. pruriens var. utilis, M. cochinchinensis, and M. pruriens var. IRZ reduced speargrass shoot density by 50, 76, and 68%, and shoot dry matter by 72, 92, and 79%, respectively.”
Claim · model-written summary
Fertilizer reduced speargrass growth in velvetbean plots.
- Taxon
- speargrasse0
- Treatment
- Fertilizere0
- Interactor
- velvetbeanMucuna pruriens var. utilise0other
- Outcome
- speargrass growthe0
- Direction
- reducede0
- Qualifier
- in velvetbean plotse0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Fertilizer reduced speargrass growth in velvetbean plots, while the opposite occurred in plots without velvetbean.”
Claim · model-written summary
Fertilizer increased speargrass growth in plots without velvetbean.
- Taxon
- speargrasse0
- Treatment
- Fertilizere0
- Outcome
- speargrass growthe0
- Direction
- increaseinferrede0
- Qualifier
- plots without velvetbeane0
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“Fertilizer reduced speargrass growth in velvetbean plots, while the opposite occurred in plots without velvetbean.”
Claim · model-written summary
Velvetbean residue suppressed speargrass until the subsequent cropping season began.
- Taxon
- speargrasse0
- Treatment
- Velvetbean residuee0
- Interactor
- VelvetbeanMucuna pruriens var. utilise0other
- Outcome
- suppressed speargrasse0
- Direction
- suppressede0
- Qualifier
- until the beginning of the subsequent cropping seasone0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Velvetbean residue effectively suppressed speargrass until the beginning of the subsequent cropping season.”
Claim · model-written summary
Maize grown a year after velvetbean required 50% less weeding than maize without previous velvetbean.
- Treatment
- grown 1 year after velvetbeane0
- Interactor
- velvetbeanMucuna pruriens var. utilise0other
- Outcome
- weedinge0
- Direction
- lesse0
- Value
- 50%e0
- Comparator
- plots without velvetbeane0
Zea maysOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Maize grown 1 year after velvetbean required 50% less weeding than plots without velvetbean.”
Claim · model-written summary
Maize shade reduced speargrass shoot growth by 30-80%.
- Taxon
- speargrasse0
- Treatment
- Maize shadee0
- Outcome
- speargrass shoot growthe0
- Direction
- reducede0
- Value
- 30-80%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Maize shade reduced speargrass shoot growth by 30-80% but regrowth of the weed occurred 4 weeks before maize harvest.”
Claim · model-written summary
Speargrass regrew four weeks before maize harvest.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Maize shade reduced speargrass shoot growth by 30-80% but regrowth of the weed occurred 4 weeks before maize harvest.”
Claim · model-written summary
Maize grain yield was higher following velvetbean than without velvetbean.
- Treatment
- plots previously seeded to velvetbeane0
- Interactor
- velvetbeanMucuna pruriens var. utilise0other
- Outcome
- grain yielde0
- Direction
- highere0
- Comparator
- plots without velvetbeane0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Maize grain yield was higher in plots previously seeded to velvetbean than in plots without velvetbean.”
Claim · model-written summary
Speargrass shoot density negatively correlated with maize grain yield (r=-0.42, P<0.01).
- Interactor
- Speargrasse0weed
- Outcome
- maize grain yielde0
- Direction
- negatively correlatede0
- Value
- r =-0.42e0
- Qualifier
- shoot densitye0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Speargrass shoot density and dry matter were negatively correlated with maize grain yield (r =-0.42 and r =-0.32, respectively, P < 0.01).”
Claim · model-written summary
Speargrass dry matter negatively correlated with maize grain yield (r=-0.32, P<0.01).
- Interactor
- Speargrasse0weed
- Outcome
- maize grain yielde0
- Direction
- negatively correlatede0
- Value
- r =-0.32e0
- Qualifier
- dry mattere0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Speargrass shoot density and dry matter were negatively correlated with maize grain yield (r =-0.42 and r =-0.32, respectively, P < 0.01).”
Claim · model-written summary
Velvetbean has limited effects on speargrass rhizomes and consequently does not provide long-term control despite suppression during establishment and the next cropping phase.
- Taxon
- speargrasse0
- Interactor
- velvetbeanMucuna pruriens var. utilise0other
- Outcome
- does not provide a long term controle0
- Qualifier
- limited effect on rhizomese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Although velvetbean may effectively reduce speargrass during the year of establishment and the subsequent cropping phase it has a limited effect on rhizomes and, as such, does not provide a long term control.”
The same questions in other papers
Mucuna pruriens var. utilis · yield · Zea mays (maize)Results differ
10 papers in the same direction as this paper · 4 in the opposite direction · 1 reporting no difference from an alternative
- no effect
- positive
- positive
12 papers more in this group
See all 16 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.