Title

Grassy Weeds

Document Type

Other

Publication Date

6-1-2002

Keywords

grassy weeds, field crops, control measures

Extension Number

ExEx 8008

Department

Plant Science

Description

Grassy weeds are a problem in all field crops. They must be identified at early stages of growth so they can be controlled before crop yields are seriously threatened. Control measures are not the same for all grassy weeds, so accurate seedling identification is essential. Most grassy weeds and grain crops look very much alike in the seedling stages. However, if you look closely (a small hand lens helps) you can pick out the unique vegetative characteristics of each weed and crop seedling. Rudiments of the seed coat are helpful to distinguish crop seedlings from grassy weeds; however, seed coat is often absent. The vegetative characteristics that identify grasses are labeled in Fig 1. A summary of the unique characteristics of each species I given in Table 1.

Comments

Updated June 2002

COinS