Differences Between Rice and Barnyardgrass and How to Identify Them

Rice is a cereal crop of the genus Oryza and is widely grown in China, but weeds such as barnyardgrass always appear in the fields. To prevent it from competing with rice for nutrients, it needs to be removed. However, they look similar, and people cannot tell them apart. Below is an introduction to the differences between rice and barnyardgrass.

1. Differences Between Rice and Barnyardgrass

Difference 1, different attributes: Barnyardgrass and rice are both grasses (Poaceae), but rice is an annual herbaceous plant of the genus Oryza, while barnyardgrass is an annual herbaceous plant of the genus Echinochloa.

Difference 2, different leaves: The leaf blades and veins of rice are entirely green, the leaves are relatively rough, and there are a ligule and auricles, with fine hairs growing on the auricle joint (that is, the ligule). The leaves of barnyardgrass are green, darker than those of rice, with white veins; the leaves are relatively smooth and hairless, with no ligule and no auricles.

2. How to Remove Barnyardgrass?

Method 1, pull by hand: In the early stage, this grass grows together with the rice, and it was not removed when the seedlings were being tended; moreover, it grows in the gaps between rice plants, making it very difficult to remove. At first you may not be able to tell them apart, but once it grows a little bigger it becomes easier to distinguish. Once you can tell barnyardgrass from rice, you can pull out the barnyardgrass by hand.

Method 2, apply pesticides: 2-4 days after sowing the pre-germinated seeds, you can use bensulfuron-methyl · pretilachlor (with safener), pyrazosulfuron-methyl · pretilachlor (with safener), pretilachlor (with safener), etc., diluted with water and sprayed; after the rice reaches the 2.5-leaf stage, you can use quinclorac, quinclorac and quinclorac mixed formulations, etc., diluted with water and sprayed; in severe cases, you can use penoxsulam (Runjie) diluted with water and sprayed.