Deep phosphorus fertiliser placement and reduced irrigation methods for rice (Oryza sativa L.) combine to knock-out competition from its nemesis, barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P.Beauv)

Productivity of rice (Oryza sativa (L.)) is increasingly being constrained by limitations in the quantity, quality, and cost of water and nutrients, and competition from weeds (Pandey and Velasco 2005; Suriyagoda et al. 2014). In this issue, Weerarathne et al. (2015) report exciting research results from factorial glasshouse replacement series experiments conducted in pots and rhizoboxes that demonstrated deep phosphorus fertiliser placement as a promising management approach to suppress barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv.) (BG) in Bg300 rice that is focused on ameliorating these constraints in P-limited systems.