Schoonord grass big problem in rice fields
Stabroek News
June 22, 2002
Schoonord grass, known as "monkey tail" on the Essequibo Coast, is a cause of grave concern to farmers across the country, according to a report in this year's first quarter newsletter of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB).
The GRDB said that the grass derived its name after being first observed as a weed problem in a farmer's field at Schoonord, West Bank of Demerara. Since it was noticed in the second crop of 1997, it has spread across the country and infested some 5,000 acres of land.
The problem has become so grave that some farmers on the Essequibo Coast were forced to abandon their crops because of the heavy infestation of this weed, the GRDB said.
The weed has been tentatively identified as Echino-chloa glabrescens, which has not been reported in the Caribbean or South America before.
Meanwhile, researchers at Burma Rice Research station are awaiting the identification results of samples sent to London through the Univer-sity of the West Indies. Attempts are also being made to determine the origin of the weed, but it has been observed that contaminated seed harvesters and other implements, irrigation water, cattle and birds have contributed to the widespread occurrence of the weed, GRDB stated.
The report further noted that because of its close resemblance to the rice plant, the Schoonord weed is only detected when it is in the flowering stage. GRDB pointed out that the first 21-34 days are crucial for its control by the use of herbicides.
Early detection is necessary for the effective control of the weed and farmers should be watchful and conduct regular inspections during the early stages of the crop.
According to GRDB, there is only one herbicide at present, NOMINEE, that is available locally that effectively controls Schoonord grass. It is effective when used between 21-32 days after sowing at a rate of 40 mls of NOMINEE per acre.
GRDB has made a limited quantity of this herbicide available free of cost to farmers in all the infested areas, but it is estimated that about $4,000 worth of this herbicide is needed to treat one acre of land.