Bermuda grass

Scientific name: Cynodon dactylon
Synonyms: Bahamagrass, Common stargrass, Couch grass, Dhubgrass, Devilgrass



Photo by Jewel Kinilitan-Bissdorf

Habitat

Cultivated and uncultivated areas

Affected crops

Most agricultural crops

Distribution

Asia, Africa, Europe, South America, USA

Description

The stem creeps at full-length along the ground. The leaves are small, linear and blue-green with rough margins. The undersides are smooth but hairy on the upper surfaces. The flowering stalks bear many slender and purplish spikelets. The fruit is reddish-brown or orange-red. The seeds are flattened, oval and straw-colored.

The weed can be propagated through seeds, runners, rooting nodes, or underground rootstocks. It is mat forming. A single plant can produce up to 720 seeds. It can endure both extensive flooding and drought.

Effect and impact

The weed is an alternate host of some plant diseases such as brown spot, leaf spot, early blight, stripe disease of rice, barley yellow dwarf, lucerne dwarf, and of nematodes. Bermuda grass is used as a cover crop to control erosion and for soil stabilization, feed for livestock, lawn beautification, and herbal medicine.

Methods of control

1. Proper selection of seeds
2. Thorough land preparation. Cultivation can destroy the seedlings
3. Regular plant monitoring
4. Hand weeding
5. Mowing

External links

• Missouri plants. Cynodon dactylon. http://www.missouriplants.com/Grasses/Cynodon_dactylon_page.html
• Purdue University. Cynodon dactylon. http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/Cynodon_dactylon.html
• FAO. Cynodon dactylon. http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/GBASE/DATA/PF000208.HTM
• PIER. Cynodon dactylon. http://www.hear.org/pier/species/cynodon_dactylon.htm
• UC IPM. Identification of grasses. http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/FIG/weed_grass.html

References

• IRRI & Queensland University. (2001): Rice IPM. An interactive information and identification system for integrated pest management in rice. University of Queensland and IRRI.
• Moody, K.; Munroe, C.; Lubigan, R.; Paller , E. (1984): Major weeds of the Philippines. University of the Philippines, Los Baños. Laguna, Philippines.