Family: Poaceae
Synonyms: Echinochloa muricata (L.)P.B.
Common names: Barnyardgrass, arrocillo, cola de caballo, patte de poule, pied de coq.
E. crus-galli is a variable annual species having many forms which differ in overall size, size and branching of inflorescence, degree of awning, bristliness of spikelets and in the crowding of spikelets along branches.
The leaves are linear, sheath of lower leaves is hairy. The inflorescence is 10-20 cm long, usually erect. Plant height is up to 100 cm, erect. It lacks ligule.
The plant prevails in wet conditions and it is one of the most important weed in paddy. E. crus-galli propagates by seeds. A single plant may produce as many as 40,000 seeds The primary source of infestation of many weeds including E. crus-galli is impure crop seed. The use of good quality rice seed free of weed seeds helps prevent the spread of weed infestations.
Although Echinochloa spp. differ from rice in the almost total lack of any ligule or auricle, the seedlings are otherwise morphologically similar and are often transplanted from the seedling nursery along with rice seedlings, causing serious competition. Herbicides, such as thiobencarb, butachlor, pretilachlor + fenclorim, propanil, and quinclorac + bensulfuron, can be used for selective control of E. crus-galli in rice seedling nurseries
Land preparation, planting date, planting method, cultivar grown, plant spacing, and fertilizer management can all be manipulated as integral parts of a program to control E. crus-galli. These aid not only in suppressing the weed but are equally beneficial in enhancing rice seedling establishment and growth. A vigorous rice crop will suppress many weed seedlings minimizing the need for other weed control methods.