Lolium remotum Schrank is an annual grass belonging to the Poaceae family, widely distributed and commonly found as a weed in technical, vegetable, and cereal crops. It is especially dangerous for flax, from which it derives its name, and can also infest corn, sunflower, soybean, rapeseed, and wheat crops. The plant is characterized by high seed productivity and good adaptation to various soil-climate conditions, which contributes to its rapid spread and resilience.
Morphologically, Lolium remotum has a straight, smooth stem ranging from 30 to 100 cm in height, narrow linear bright green leaves with a rough surface. The inflorescence is an elongated spike with spikelets arranged along the axis. The root system is fibrous and well-branched. It primarily reproduces via seeds, which can remain viable in soil for up to five years.
Lolium remotum is an important forage and gas-producing crop, resistant to trampling and quickly recovering after mowing. The first cut can be made as early as 5-6 weeks after sowing, with yields of 30 to 60 centners per hectare per season. It pairs well with white clover, making it a valuable component of forage fields. At the same time, as a weed, it competes with crops for water, light, and nutrients, complicates crop management and harvest, and reduces the quality of flax fiber and seeds. For prevention and control, crop rotation alternating broadleaf and grass crops, early tillage, deep autumn soil preparation, seed cleaning, as well as mechanical and chemical methods, including the use of herbicides-graminicides, are recommended.
