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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #299161
Title: The impact of volunteer rice infestation on rice yield and grain quality

Author
item SINGH, VIJAY - University Of Arkansas
item BURGOS, NILDA - University Of Arkansas
item SINGH, SHILPA - University Of Arkansas
item SALAS, REIOFELI - University Of Arkansas
item Gealy, David

Submitted to: Proceedings of Southern Weed Science Society
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/28/2013
Publication Date: 1/31/2013
Citation: Singh, V., Burgos, N.R., Singh, S., Salas, R.A., Gealy, D.R. 2013. The impact of volunteer rice infestation on rice yield and grain quality. Proceedings of Southern Weed Science Society. 66:51.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Volunteer rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a crop stand which emerges from shattered seeds of the previous crop. When present at sufficiently high levels, it can potentially affect the commercial market value of cultivated rice products, especially if it produces kernels with quality, uniformity, or size characteristics that are dissimilar or inferior to those of the cultivar planted. To evaluate the effect of volunteer rice infestation on rice yield and grain quality, a survey of 10 farmers’ fields in Arkansas was conducted in the fall of 2012. Samples were collected from 6 rice-growing counties, targeting fields with a history of hybrid rice. Panicles were collected from 1-m2 areas representing different levels of infestation across the field. Culms of volunteer and cultivated rice were counted. Volunteer rice was identified as any rice plant growing between the crop rows and any rice plant exhibiting maturity, growth habit, or grain size or shape traits which differed from the crop rice within the sampled area. The total grain yield of rice (crop plus volunteer) was reduced by 0.6% for every one percent of volunteer rice in the field, apparently due to competition. Over all samples, the 1000-kernel weight, kernel length-width ratio, percent protein and percent chalk of cultivated rice grain were independent of the level of volunteer rice infestation. However, one or more of these traits were negatively impacted in some fields. Fields with repeated use of ClearfieldTM hybrid rice over three to four years reported the highest infestations of volunteer rice. Our study suggests that the yield loss and potential grain quality reduction due to volunteer rice could economically impact the rice industry and will require effective management.