Factors Effecting Germination, Emergence and Establishment of Two Echinochloa species

A comparative study on effect of environmental factors on germination, emergence and establishment of Echinochloa colonum and E. crusgalli was carried out. While E. colonum exhibited higher spread potential, E. crusgalli showed higher establishment potential. E. crusgalli seeds possessed greater 1000 seed weight (9.5 g) as compared to E. colonum seeds (4.5 g). Both the species showed germination from April to September and did not germinate from October to March. E. crusgalli seed remained viable for a longer period (< 2 years) as compared to E. colonum seeds (< 2 years). Seedling growth was affected at a moisture stress of −0.8 MPa to −1.0 MPa in E. colonum and not in E. crusgalli. E. crusgalli seeds germinated over a wider pH range (5.6–10.0) as compared to E. colonum (6.6–7.9).