Rice By-Products Reduce Seed and Seedlings Survival of Echinochloa crus-galli, Leptochloa chinensis and Fymbristylis miliacea

Extracting allelochemicals from rice (Oryza sativa) straw and use for weed management is more sustainable than burning and reduces herbicide dependence. Water soluble compounds were extracted from shoots and roots of OM 5930, generating both a crystallized by-product and liquid extract. Crystallized product was applied to soil with pre-germinated barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli L. Beauv), red sprangletop (Leptochloa chinensis L. Nees), and grass-like fimbry (Fimbristylis miliacea L. Vahl) seeds. As little as 9.4 g per pot (1 ton ha−1 biomass) reduced survival of all species, with the order of sensitivity barnyardgrass (BG) < red sprangletop (RS) < grasslike-fimbry (GF). Increased rates or time of exposure (3 to 42 days after treatment; DAT) resulted in a stepwise reduction in seed survival. Using liquid extract, 5.33 g pot−1 (3 tons ha−1 biomass) reduced BG survival by 49.8%, while 2.67 g pot−1 reduced survival of RS and GF by 49.7 and 54.3%, respectively at 42 DAT. A rate of 8 g pot−1 reduced survival of BG seedlings by 78.3% but was lethal to RS and GF seedlings. The most abundant allelochemicals present were ergosterol peroxide, p-coumaric acid, and salicylic acid. OM 5930 rice is a promising variety for extraction of allelopathic compounds and application for extended herbicidal activity.