SUMMER GRASS

Summer Grass (Digitaria Sanguinalis and Digitaria Cilaris) is an annual weed that appears in the warmer months of the year. It will then go to seed into autumn where it can emerge over several years. There are two varieties of Summer grass that are very similar in appearance. If left untreated, it can grow as high as 30cm and 1m wide, thrive in conditions of high temperatures and high humidity.

Affecting a wide range of crops (groundnut, cotton, rice, maize, sorghum, vegetables, pineapple, cassava and tea).  An aggressive weed which competes particularly for nitrogen. It is suspected to have allelopathic effects suppressing the growth of other plants. There is evidence that D. ciliaris can deplete potassium in soils, resulting in reduced crop yields. The weeds is an alternative host for many crop pests and diseases including rice stripe virus and rice black-streaked dwarf virus, pangola stunt virus of sugarcane, sugarcane mosaic virus, maize streak virus and sorghum plantbug Stenotus rubrovittatus.

Avon Wheatbelt, Carnarvon, Central Kimberley, Dampierland, Esperance Plains, Geraldton Sandplains, Indian Tropical Islands, Jarrah Forest, Murchison, Northern Kimberley, Ord Victoria Plain, Pilbara, Swan Coastal Plain, Victoria Bonaparte, Warren.

Spray FireHawk Bioherbicide Concentrate: 50 mL/L of water. Respray if required