#tridax pod

[theheckle01]

Continuing my trend of Spider-Man themed MOCs, here’s the Green Goblin!

Fun fact: I sometimes come up with backstory for the Bionicle version of these Spider-Man characters. There’s something fun about trying to fit Spider-Man’s mythos into Bionicle. My thought was this: the Makuta of York Nui (the island where the Bionicle Spidey story takes place) is known as Ozborn. Ozborn has a Teridax/Ahkmou relationship with a Matoran called Hari, who is also friends with the Matoran who would become Spider-Man (or Spider-Toa). Due to the whole Spidey thing, Spidey and Hari would drift apart. Ozborn would then use Hari as a weapon, using an adapted form of energized protodermis (similar to the kind that transformed the spider that would bite Spidey) to turn Hari into the Green Goblin. The idea is that this Goblin is a test run to see how this form of energized protodermis affects Hari before Ozborn would consider using it on himself or mass produce it as a weapon for the Brotherhood. In my head, this Goblin would be closer to the Harry Osborn version of the character, but would take on the mantle first. It’s a bit like how Spectacular Spider-Man handled it in season 1 combined with aspects of the 90s animated series’ Hobgoblin. Also, some Ultimate Spidey lore there for good measure. In case you’re curious why I went this route, it’s simple: stud.io doesn’t have the rib piece for the Phatoka Makuta torso. I wanted to use that torso for the Norman Goblin (who would always have been a Makuta in my head), with the torso holding the Tridax pods that would act as pumpkin bombs.

#bionicle #moc #lego #green goblin #spider-man #marvel

[venoblade-bionicles]

the Ta-Metru Protosteel Moth. created by an unknown Makuta post reformation out of discarded Tridax pods, the Protosteel Moths are cleaners, flying around most major cities (most prominently Ta-Metru in New Atero) they eat discarded metallic protodermis, their intense inner heat melting it. after it is melted, they will fly to the great furnace of that city, "vomiting" the protodermis into it, allowing it to be recycled into new projects. the large dome like structure on the top of their head is an eye, which sees in a spectrum that identifies protodrmis. because of their useful nature, they are widely beloved, especially by mask makers, and they're often kept as pets by them. they can appear in a multitude of colors, though the rarest is silver, and seeing a silver one is said to grant incredible luck. there's even a mythic variant said to be golden. However, a golden specimen has never been seen. despite their inner heat, it is said that hugging one is an experience unlike any other. I suspect that if a Gardener Thornax and a Protosteel Moth hugged each other, the universe would collapse due to the immense joy produced.

#bionicle #moc #stud.io #rahi #moth #V-universe

[downtofragglerock]

Let's talk about Tridax

Alright, here's another one

So Tridax is another tertiary makuta. We don't know that much about him to the point that his bio on bs01 is largely made up of generalisms that can be applied to every member of the brotherhood. We don't even have a canonical appearance for them, but, much like Kojol, there seems to be a general consensus among fanmade depictions these days

But what information we do have about him contains some interesting points

For one thing, Tridax fell into the scientist category of my Scientist/Warrior/Ruler trichotomy hypothesis, notably he, alongside Mutran and Chirox, created the shadow leeches and he suggested the idea of the Tridax pods, which is why they're named after him. So, like his contemporaries, Tridax was probably still making rahi up until his demise at the hands of the oomn

Well, maybe not right up until, due to his other projects...

The other notable thing about Tridax is his mask: the Olmak

Tridax is one of the three Olmak users we see in the story, alongside Brutaka and Vezon, and while we know it wasn't his primary mask, we also know that it was a part of his arsenal for a very long time

Tridax, of course, most famously used the Olmak's power to get a life-sized Takanuva action figure collection, but I doubt it was the first time he dabbled with alternate dimension fuckery, since the only motivation for wanting to acquire such a mask in the first place I can parse is pure curiosity

I suspect that, at least early on, Tridax's rahi, at a first glance, didn't have much of a unifying factor, with one exception: strange and esoteric abilities, often incongruent with first impressions

Perhaps the Shore Turtle, with its strange flight capabilities. Or the Fader Bull, a large burly herbivore that can teleport at will. Or the Gate Guardian, which can literally just project a smaller version of itself for defensive and offensive purposes

But after his acquisition of the Olmak, his creations got even more bizarre...

Olmak users cannot escape the lure of alternate realities, wether they want to or not. The one fused to Vezon's skull forced him into the Bionicle equivalent of Sliders. There is actual evidence that Brutaka may have visited our own reality.

What I'm saying is that when Tridax first gazed upon the infinite tapestry of the multiverse, he got ideas, ideas that puzzled the rest of the brotherhood

Like sure, the electricity generating rodent rahi ended up being great batteries, but the mountable reptilian rahi with prehensile tongues, vast internal stomachs, and brief hovering capabilities were just weird, even by their standards

#bionicle #Tridax: certified weird shit maker and multidimensional plagiarist

[toaarcan]

Makuta Reytez, the Witch-Queen

Reytez was a Makuta whom had a particular penchant for creating gigantic, carnivorous monsters and little else. When the Makuta divided the Matoran Universe into regions which they could personally monitor and maintain order, she was given a small group of islands in one of the GSR's arms. Relatively isolated, and rarely contacted by her brothers, she continued her experiments, and her region quickly became an inhospitable hellscape- the seas and most of the islands became habitats to her monstrous creations, creatures that had nothing to feed on but each other and the various sapient species. As a result, most of the Matoran that called the area home gravitated toward the shining city she had built on the largest of the islands, where they could be protected by the Makuta's Toa Hagah team. Initially referred to as simply 'Haven', in time it would be renamed 'Reytez-Nui', in honour of their 'protector.' Reytez's region is so inhospitable that she has managed to recruit a few minor Dark Hunters into her operation, as once they disappeared into her territory, they were simply given up for dead.

Reytez attended the convocation where Teridax outlined his plan to usurp the Great Spirit, where she sided with the Brotherhood’s new leader against Miserix, and would later massacre her Toa Hagah after Teridax's team turned traitor. Unlike the others, however, she quickly recruited new ones, and largely uses her Toa Hagah team for entertainment, creating new monsters for them to fight for her amusement. Unfortunately, there are limits to a Toa's capabilities, and she eventually grew tired of the kind of fights that she could cause. To that end, she took to experimenting on them too. Reytez's Toa are slightly larger, stronger, and faster than normal Toa, and all possess one or two biotech implants made from Kanohi masks, which grant them additional powers. However, this process involved a lot of experimentation, and Reytez has a long list of failed specimens that she keeps stored away within her fortress.

Reytez is a cruel and vindictive person, and an expert manipulator, a trait she bolsters with her weapon of choice, a Great Mask of Charisma. The Kanohi's sinister power allows her to essentially brainwash people simply by talking to them, as long as she doesn't rush the process. It's this that allows her to maintain her grip over the Matoran in her region, and the Toa that serve her. She particularly likes to torment her victims and then use her mask to convince them that someone else is to blame- After a member of her Hagah team, Ashlinn, escaped from her grip and made it out of her lands, she responded by ripping the wings off of the escapee's brother, Vertezar, in order to prevent him from following his sister's lead, and then manipulated him into blaming Ashlinn for the loss of his ability to fly.

Like most Makuta, Reytez possesses a wide array of weapons that she often rotates through, but she particularly favours a massive Power Scythe and a Rotating Blade Shield. After Mutran created Shadow Leeches, she added a Tridax Pod filled with the mutant Kraata to her regular arsenal. While she prefers to use the Mask of Charisma, her default Kanohi is a Mask of Scavenging.

Reytez was actually able to survive the Reign of Shadows, through an unorthodox means. She a portion of her Antidermis away in a Reliquary that she left to be guided by her most faithful servant, a mutated Rahkshi named Vordrax. When she was inevitably slain by the ascendant Teridax, Vordrax opened the seal and carefully monitored this surviving piece of his creator until she was fully restored.

Still, she did not return immediately. This was partially to avoid attracting Teridax's attention again, and but mostly because she wanted to take the time to allow her region to fall into chaos. As it did so, with various members of her Hagah team scrapping over who was her heir, and Teridax's own cruelty pushing them all to the brink, she sent Vordrax to stoke the fires, accentuating the divides and disorder that had formed in the wake of her death. Finally, when the Great Spirit Robot collapsed, she returned, striding out of the sea and revealing herself to her fractured people. As they fell into line beneath her once more, she turned and led them to safety, her Rahi Control powers keeping the monsters she had made at bay while she guided them to the fresh new paradise of Spherus Magna.

Once there, she swiftly reestablished Reytez-Nui and returned to the norm, satisfied that her people would now always associate her with their own salvation.

#Bionicle #Bionicle MOC #MOC #Lego #Lego MOC #Makuta #Makuta Reytez #Reytez

[agils-01]

What happened if the Shadow Leeches affected by the Pit Mutagen?

Like, imagine a Makuta with Tridax Pod in the Mahri Nui which they got horrifyingly mutated into a somekind of eldritch leviathan and the pod is like one of the things that remains.

The leeches would probably be mutated too.

[sepublic]

Xian Weapons

Force Blaster- A cylindrical cannon, it was created after analyzing and reverse-engineering the Force Sphere phenomenon that occurred within Chutes. Force Blasters recreate the conditions of a Chute within their cylindrical forms, before weaponizing the electro-magnetic energy to create a miniaturized Force Sphere that is fired at targets. These Force Spheres possess powerful pulls, pulling in anything they pass by or through; Metal is particularly subsceptible to their attraction. Once inside the Force Sphere, any materials quickly fold up and compress, imploding whatever was caught within and vaporizing it in an energy blast. Against objects too large and durable to fully absorb, a Force Sphere will collide with it, tearing off portions of the target and causing it to implode before detonating, leaving a scorched crater where it struck.

Rail Gun- Rail Guns come in a wide variety of sizes, but most are hand-held weapons meant to be held in one hand. A battery stores energy and sends it travelling through a pair of ridged tongs, before the energy concentrates into a small sphere within the curved ends of the tongs. The energy-sphere shoots forth a deadly beam, causing it to dissipate as a target is struck. The larger a Rail Gun, the longer it takes for shots to charge and fire. Consequently, hand-held Rail Guns are very fast and responsive weapons, but still require a brief second of cool-down before re-firing. Handheld varieties have some popularity within gladiator matches in Zakaz, and are the most prolific of Xian weapons.

Disk Launcher- Razor-edged disks are loaded into specialized launchers. These launchers use electro-magnetic force to rapidly rotate a disk and launch it forward, turning the disk into a spinning buzzsaw whose edges then heat up to enhance cutting ability. After being launched and slicing through an enemy or missing them, the launcher can call back the disk using its electro-magnetic force. The spinning disk in turn boomerangs back, tethered by an electro-magnet core within, and neatly slots back into the launcher. Disk Launchers already function as lethal ranged weapons with a boomerang functionality, but a user can use them for melee combat as well, spinning the disk within the launcher and keeping it in place as a lethal buzzsaw.

Trydahk Pods- These space-warping storage units were named after their creator Trydahk, the leader of the Nynrah Ghosts. Trydahk Pods are circular spheres, a little bit bigger than a bowling ball, and consist of multiple plates that make up the hollow sphere’s surface. When activated, the pieces of the Trydahk Pod will separate and surround whatever the user wants to contain. Once in position, the fragments will course their space-warping energy throughout one another and begin to close in, shrinking the very space surrounding the object they are wrapping around. To the unobserved eye, it as if the object is being shrunken down into a smaller size before the pieces finally fit back together and lock in, recreating the Trydahk Pod. Trydahk Pods can store things much larger than them by manipulating space, and are invaluable both for storage reasons, but also as bombs that can be deployed and release any manner of dangerous threats. If a Trydahk Pod is sufficiently damaged while containing something, it will fall apart as the space within it bursts and releases the contained contents. Countless Trydahk Pods have been used to store invaluable artifacts, data, and other precious things within the Archives.

Nektann- These turrets come in two forms; Mobile or Immobile. Immobile Nektanns consisted of dome-shaped platforms built into the ground, with a hole in the center ringed by spikes and blades that face upwards. Upon detecting an intruder, the Nektann builds up energy and shoots it out in the formed an arced beam that travels towards the target, striking it. Due to the curved shape of its beams, this allows Nektanns to bypass various obstacles and barriers by utilizing a 3-D path towards enemies. Mobile Nektanns are sphere-shaped and move on four, claw-tipped legs surrounding their bodies. They fire laser-beams from an eye on their surface, and when damaged, will deploy a small swarm of nano-machines that will set to work repairing the Nektann by sealing gaps, reattaching limbs, covering weak points, smoothing out dented armor, and so forth. While Immobile Nektanns are typically deployed as guards and sentries around key locations, Mobile Nektanns are utilized as shock troopers in combat.

Gatling Cannon- These large, silver-barreled cannons are able to hold up to six explosive rocket-rounds. Upon being fired, these rockets are fired in quick, rapid succession as the barrel rotates, obliterating anything in its path before rapidly reloading once all shots have been unleashed. Gatling Cannons are incredibly heavy-duty, powerful weapons normally found affixed to larger machines and structures.

Nynrah Ghost Blaster- Named after their infamous creators, the Nynrah Ghost Blaster was designed after the capture of the Dark Hunter Thok, whose unusual wraith-like properties were studied, analyzed, and replicated before he eventually escaped. The Nynrah Ghost Blaster operates on the same principle as beings like Thok, or the Kraata to a lesser extent; It has a battery cell that contains a Life energy ‘spirit’ of sorts that when fired, strikes a target. Upon hitting its target, this energy-wraith promptly possesses it, enabling the user to control what they have shot through a complex interface that is able to analyze their intent and transmit it to the energy wraith. Although useless on mundane tools and solid objects, the Nynrah Ghost Blaster truly shines when used on complex machinery; The energy-wraith it stores is able to interact with and control the machine it possesses, enabling the user to essentially hack into any form of machinery they encounter without needing to physically touch it or even understand how it works. The Nynrah Ghost Blaster can hijack and control the likes of Vahki, although it is useless against Exo-Toa, not quite able to replicate the energies and wavelength of a Kraata. When used against someone with cybernetic limbs, it can possess the robotic limbs and turn them against the owner.

Zamor Launcher- Zamor Launchers consist of a specialized launcher that is compatible only with its ammunition, the crystalline Zamor Spheres, and vice-versa. Zamor Spheres are hollow spheres made up of a malleable, programmable crystal that can form holes in their surface to store contents, and act as natural conductors that can capture and preserve forms of energy. Fire, electricity, explosive energy, and so forth can be properly contained within a Zamor Sphere. Upon striking something, a Zamor Sphere will form an opening directly into the surface of its target and release its contents in a pressurized, concentrated explosion that is funneled into a precise pillar of destruction. These concentrated explosions are able to pierce heavy armor, able to more precisely wield the explosive power of a regular grenade and thus making the Zamor Sphere far more lethal. The Zamor Spheres work even more brilliantly in conjunction with their intended launchers; A launcher will locate and track down a target, recognizing and analyzing it before transmitting the information of that target into the Zamor Sphere. Once the Zamor Sphere is launched, it will fly through the air; Once it is close enough to the designated target, an opening will form pointing directly at them, sending forth a pillar of released energy at a victim. If the Zamor Sphere strikes them directly, then it functions as it normally would without a launcher to guide it. Due to Zamor Launchers’ powerful precision, they are able to almost eliminate the need for any basic aiming skills used in ranged weaponry. On their own, Zamor Spheres are a more reliable containment unit for non-solids and forms of energy than a Trydahk Pod.

Destructor- These are bipedal, hunched-over robots with digitigrade legs and spindly arms for grabbing onto targets. Their bodies mainly consist of a large, mechanical syringe, as well as jet-boosters in the back to enable powerful, rapid jumps towards targets. Upon reaching a target, the Destructor will pierce them with its sharpened needle, before injecting a lethal micro-bomb into the target. Once the bomb is deployed, the Destructor flees in the brief seconds it takes for the bomb to detonate, tearing apart a victim from the inside out. The Destructor was developed as a direct response to powerful forms of armor that protected weaker insides, and is invaluable in killing rogue bioweapons of impenetrable hides. Destructors utilized by the Nynrah Ghosts are sometimes given trackers instead of bombs, to keep track of the movements of a creature they are monitoring.

Twilight Blade- These thin, sharpened blades have every square-inch of their surfaces covered in complex light-panels. Beneath these panels is a powerful computer program that analyzes the light in the area and how it reflects off of the Twilight Blade; Depending on the user’s setting, the program will then guide the light panels into either bending and distorting any light that strikes them, rendering the Twilight Blade itself totally invisible; Or instead have them reflect all light that hits them directly into the eyes of an opponent, blinding them and giving the wielder an opportunity to strike. Due to the incredibly complex and precise nature of its use and programming, the Twilight Blade is a select and rare product.

Hagah Plasma Cannon- Sporting a distinctive yellow-and-purple coloring, this large cannon (created and distributed by the Hagah Co.) has a deployable stand, that turns the weapon into a manned turret; The Hagah Plasma Cannon is also able to retract its stand for use as a handheld weapon for particularly large and powerful owners. Upon being aimed, its laser-scope will focus in on a target, and the Hagah Plasma Cannon fires at the flick of its handles’ switches. Briefly it will charge a powerful, super-heated round of plasma before shooting it forth as a thin, narrow beam. Upon hitting a target, the plasma detonates as a slowly-building sphere of pure, concentrated plasma that directly eats away and burns at whatever is in its vicinity. Things struck by the Hagah Plasma Cannon are left with perfectly sphere-shaped openings where everything caught within the blast radius has been totally incinerated and vaporized. The Hagah Plasma Cannon is able to slowly but surely burn through any form of defense and impenetrable armor, and is incredibly expensive as a result.

Scouter Drone- These small, silver bipedal robots are equipped with rotos on their backs and have swiveling heads, each tipped with a pair of laser-cannons. Mostly used for reconnaissance, these Scouter Drones will fly overhead, utilizing enhanced eyesight and audio sensors to record data before relaying it back to their commanders. Their thin, spindly legs assist in the process of landing and taking off, as well as moving forward on land, and their laser-cannons act as a diminutive yet adequate form of defense. When flying overhead, they can also utilize searchlights to better enhance their vision and point out potential targets to others.

#bionicle #Bionicle RaE #xia #nektann #zamor #nynrah ghost blaster #nynrah ghosts #kanoka #hagah plasma cannon #tridax pods #zamor launcher

[kanohivolitakk]

Earlier today @sepublic s comment on my Takadox’s “necklace” being heartlights really caught my eye. While making the design I didn’t really think about making the necklace his heartlights. It was simply a “jewelry” type of thing to add a bit luxury, sophistication and otherworldliness to his design: Given that a large inspiration for my Takadox were mages and that I wanted to make him look elegant while mysterious, a necklace made sense. Heartlights weren’t really in my mind while making that aspect of his design.

So, Sepublic bringing up this idea on Takadox’s “necklace” being his species heartlights was something I really liked and made a lot of sense. So I decided to add it to my own headcanon.

In addition to it being a neat hc in general, one of the main reasons this idea caught my eye was because I actually had thought something similar to Pridak’s species. In my fanon, Pridak’s species doesn’t have heartlights: Instead they have an equivalent in “cores”, large orbs resembling that of Tridax pods except they’re not retractable. So both Pridak and Takadox species having unique shaped heartlights was pretty amusing similarity.

This got me thinking: what if all of the Barraki species had either uniquely shaped heartlights, or heartlight equivalents (like the cores Pridaks species has). This makes sense on multiple levels.

Firstly, having unique heartlights could be a signifier that they were created by Mata Nui rather than Great Beings. I like to imagine that most GB created sentient beings either had a heartlight similar to the Toa, or had invisible heartlights. So perhaps each of Mata Nuis creations had a differently shaped hearlight (why they’d be unique from each other, I don’t know Perhaps due to biological reasons)

Secondly, it could be a way to signify status: the Barraki species were created to serve important roles in Matoran universe, so perhaps MN wanted these spcies to have unique heartlights to show that they were a big deal. Kinda give this short hand. In addition, perhaps each species had a different kind of heartlight that was associated with some unique trait of theirs (this definitely gives some playroom with Ehleks species given that they were canonically waterbreathers, so their bodies being created around that makes ton of sense)

And lastly, from a more out of universe standpoint, like with my Gem concept, its of those “unifying design traits” that make the Barraki look like being part of a group, while standing out from rest of the cast as well as from each other.

#Kirika Talks #Bionicle #Barraki #Pridak #Takadox #Ehlek

[bionigrls]

Speaking of oc's, how do you build a mermaid tail? Everywhere I've looked i can't find an instruction set for that kind of tail.

oof, sorry anon, i really don’t have a good setup to yoink quick photos of my process, BUT i do have this photo of Brandi’s construction skeleton on hand, and i hope it can help some:

her Torso is built around an old piraka-pelvis, with the two sockets attached to it by technic element (under the silver plate seen) the “hips” of her tail are made with the small HF torso inverted, and the tail is made by angling the joints attached there together to meet at a 2006 bionicle ball with the hole through it.

the red rahkshi foot with the doodads sticking out is her butt, it makes the tail have color and volume, and the limbs are covered by standard HF claddings, while the two pins with bushes hold on the tridax pod halves (the bulk of her hip size is in these)

in essence, i kinda wing it with HF limbs and then try to cover them, but i like using the smallish HF torso as a base because it’s got enough connection points to make for stable, but flexible tails that can be easily hidden in a shapely manner, i will try to find time to get some sort of proper instruction layout, and comparisons w/ my Other (unseen) mermaid design too though, won’t be too long!

#bionicle #ask #mermaids #hope it helps somewhat anyway oops

[agrihome]

How to effectively control weeds in cassava farms is one of the major challenges in cassava production. 

A weed is a plant considered undesirable in a particular situation, “a plant in the wrong place”. Examples commonly are plants unwanted in human-controlled settings, such as farm fields, gardens, lawns, and parks. (Wikipedia)

Read also: Basic Principles of Weeds Control and Integrated Weed Management (IWM)

Different types of weeds occur in cassava farms and these may cause considerable losses to the farmer.

What are the common weeds in cassava farms?

There are three groups of weeds in a cassava farm namely; grasses, sedges and broadleaf weeds.

Grasses

They are usually slender, erect or creeping plants. They have stems that can be oval or cylindrical in shape. The leaves of grasses are longer than broad and they do not subdivide into leaflets. Common grass weeds in cassava farms include speargrass (Imperata cylindrica), bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon), Guinea grass (Panicum maximum) and the Feathery Pennisetum (Pennisetum polystachion).

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Sedges

Sedges are like grasses but they are usually erect and have solid and triangular shapes stems. The common sedges in cassava farms are Mariscus alternifolius and purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus).

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Broadleaf weeds

Broadleaf weeds are herbs, creepers, climbers and shrubs with solid stems and are irregular in shape. Their leaves are broad, expanded and single or subdivided into leaflets to form compound leaves. Broadleaf weeds commonly found in cassava farms are Siam weed (Chromolaena odorata), wild poinsetta (Euphorbia heterophylla), giant sensitive weed (Mimosa invisa), tridax (Tridax procumbens), goat weed (Ageratum conyzoides), waterleaf (Talinum traingulare) and tropical spiderwort (Commelina benghalensis).

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

How do these weeds spread?

After clearing an area for farming weeds are among the first plant the will start appearing on the land, especially when the land is left bare. They grow and reproduce very quickly.

Weeds reproduce and spread through seeds and vegetative structures, eg., rhizomes, stolons, tubers and stem/root basal stocks.

Spread by seeds

Weeds which live for one year (annual weeds) reproduce and spread mainly by seeds. Examples are Sima weeds, wild ponsettia, tridax and goat weed. They shed their seeds mostly in the dry season and die soon afterwards. The seeds survive in the soil and germinate the following season. Also, they can remain the soil for many years until disturbed when the soil is tilled for planting.

To effectively control these weeds, remove them before they start flowering. This will prevent seeding to increase the number of seeds in the soil.

Spread by rhizome

Rhizomes are underground stems running horizontally to the soil surface. They have thin brown papery leaves wrapped around the stem. The rhizomes have roots. Speargrass reproduces mainly by rhizomes. If rhizomes are cut up into pieces, each piece is capable of growing into a new plant. It is very easy to spread speargrass during land preparation for cassava farm.

Spread by tubers

Tubers are underground stems without leaves but buds or “eyes”. The stems are swollen with stored food. Cuperus and Mariscus species spread by tubers. The tubers of Cyperus species occur as large “beads” on underground slender stems which join the individual plants together. If you cut it up into pieces, each piece of the tuber with a bud or “eye” is capable of growing into a new Cyperus plant.

Spread by stolons

A stolon is a slender stem that runs on the surface of the soil. Stolons have normal leaves and roots. Bermuda grass reproduces by stolons which are very long. If you cut stolons into pieces, each piece is capable of growing into a new plant. You are therefore very likely to spread Bermuda grass in this way during land and seedbed preparation for cassava planting.

Spread by other vegetative structures

Some weeds also spread through other vegetative parts such as stem cuttings and basal shoot stocks. The waterleaf and tropical spiderwort are propagated by both seeds and stem cuttings. In addition to the production of seeds, Chromolaena odorata can also sprout into whole plants from cut basal shoots.

How do weeds become a problem?

Weeds make cassava grow poorly and produces fewer and smaller storage roots. However, the presence of weeds in your farm does not always mean that they will cause severe losses. There are a number of reasons weeds become a problem in cassava farms.

Weeds grow abundantly

Weeds become a problem when they are abundant on the cassava farm. They spread to cover the ground almost completely. This increases the cost of weeding in time and money. They also use up lots of nutrients and water making them unavailable for the growth of the cassava plant.

Weeds grow vigorously

Weeds grow more rapidly than cassava. This causes them to “choke” the cassava very quickly. They also shade the cassava plant from sunlight.

Weeds are difficult to remove

If the thorns of a giant sensitive weed (Mimosa invisa) hook into a young cassava stem, it will be difficult to remove the weed without breaking the stems. Similarly, the parasitic weed dodder, which climbs and wraps tightly on the cassava plants, causes breakage of the cassava shoot tips during hand weeding. Some weeds too can injure people, eg., Mimosa invisa during hand weeding or hoeing because of its thorns. The hairy pods of Mucuna pruriens var. pruriens and others alike can cause intense itching.

Weeds which reproduce by rhizomes, stolons and tubers also break easily into pieces during hand or hoe weeding. The pieces remaining in the soil will sprout later.

Some weeds grow on the cassava

Certain weeds grow and feed directly on the stem of the cassava. For example, dodder attaches itself tightly to cassava stems and sucks water and nutrients from the plant.

Weeds harbour pests

Pest and diseases of cassava can multiply on weeds and later move to the cassava. For example, immature stages of the variegated grasshopper, Zonocerus variegatus, gather on bushes of Chromolaena odorata and then mover on to cassava plants as they become mature grasshopper.

Weeds injure cassava roots

The emerging shoots of speargrass, sometimes pierce and destroy cassava storage roots.

How can you effectively control weeds in cassava farms?

Weed control by slashing, hand or hoe weeding can be labour intensive. The best way to control weeds in cassava farms is to adopt different cultural practices especially at the land clearing, land preparation, seedbed preparation, planting and post-planting stages of growing cassava. If you have to use herbicides, you should consult the labels for guidelines on the application methods and rates to avoid environmental hazards associated with the use.

Read also: Safety Precautions in Agrochemicals Handling and Usage

Use IPM (Integrated Pests Management) practices at planting

Prepare your land properly: When clearing the land for planting cassava in wet areas, you can slash the bush before the rains start. Weeds will emerge on the cleared land soon after the rains. You can then remove these weeds as you plant cassava stem cuttings. This will greatly reduce the frequency and labour of weeding in the cassava. When preparing seedbeds for planting cassava, remove weed rhizomes, stolons, tubers and other structures that germinate and spread the weed in the farm. Farm tillage tools should be checked and cleaned from time to time to make sure they are free of these weeds structures. Otherwise, you will spread the weeds through contaminated tools.

Read also: How to Practically and Effectively Maintain Farm Tools and Equipment

Grow suitable cassava varieties: Some cassava varieties have heavy and early branching characteristics. This habit allows these varieties to suppress weeds because they develop a lot of branches and leaves to form a thick canopy that shades weeds and prevents them from growing well. Cassava varieties with a late, high and less branching habit are very good at suppressing weeds. 

Mulch cassava seedbeds with dead plant foliage: Mulching involves the covering of the soil surface with very large amounts of plant foliage. Good sources of mulch materials are foliage from alley crops, leguminous plants, rice husk, coffee hull and general crops and weeds residues. Straws of maize and guinea grass take too long to decompose. Avoid using weed residues containing weed seeds, rhizomes, stolons or tubers as mulch because these can grow again when introduced to your farm.

Read also: What is Mulch, Mulch Types, Importance and Best Materials for Mulching?

Use cover crops as live mulch on seedbeds: You can grow cover crops as intercrops with cassava to reduce weed incidence. Plant cover crops close together to increase density and spread. This can suppress weed growth.

Plant cassava in association with other crops: Intercropping cassava with other crops like maize, rice, grain legumes and vegetables can also help control weeds in cassava farms.

IPM Practices after planting

Weed at the right time to prevent competition from weeds with cassava root formation and bulking and reduce other damages the weeds may cause to the cassava. 

If the cassava is the sole crop, weed three times before harvest at 3-4 weeks after planting, 7-8weeks after planting and 12 weeks after planting. After this remove weed regrowth to make it easy to work between plants and discourage rodents.

It may not be necessary to control weeds in cassava farms at that frequency when you;

clean rhizomes, stolons and tubers from cassava seedbed

plant varieties capable of suppressing weeds

adopt suitable intercrops

mulch well where necessary.

Improved fallow periods

During the fallow period grow cover crops like Mucuna pruriens var utilis on the land before growing cassava the following season. The growth of mucuna will completely cover the land and prevent the growth of weeds and the labour required to control them. During planting time you can plant the cassava directly into the mulch with little or no land clearing.

The mucuna is effective against spear grass and many other stubborn weeds. It produces lots of leaves and stays green up to 9months after it has been planted. It is therefore good for long term weed control and soil improvement.

Canavalia ensiformis is another leguminous fallow plant that is effective against spear grass and other stubborn weeds. However, the leaves drop earlier. Usually, 4-5 months after planting. After this period if weeds receive enough sunlight they will grow abundantly. So, in areas with two wet seasons, it is advisable to grow Canavalia ensiformis, twice in a year, early in the first and second wet seasons.

IN SUMMARY

Weeds control in cassava farms can be very problematic, however with the points outlined you should be able to sustainably and effectively control weeds in cassava farms.

Reference:

Weed control in cassava farms – Alex Melifonwu et al, 2000.

  Control Weeds In Cassava Farms Effectively and Sustainably How to effectively control weeds in cassava farms is one of the major challenges in cassava production. 

#cassava #Weeds

[sepublic]

Trydahk’s Rahi

           (Note: Trydahk is my replacement name for Tridax, because his name is otherwise way too similar to Teridax’s in terms of spelling.)

           Trydahk was a collector who delighted in the bizarre, the eccentric, and the unusual. He liked things that stood out, and he enjoyed keeping track of them; He was infamous for having an unusual ‘collection’ of various antiques and artifacts, with miscellaneous histories and functions tied to them.

           These interests manifested in Trydahk’s Rahi creations as well. Trydahk enjoyed creating unusual Rahi, unique for the sake of it- While still being interesting enough to warrant their uniqueness as well. He devised many one-of-a-kind species, and collaborated with Mutran on a couple of projects in the past. Trydahk enjoyed elusive cryptids, and he liked creating Rahi that came in a wide variety of colors, patterns, and other individual differences. His Rahi bred variety amongst their numbers, and it was always a fascinating hobby for Trydahk to catalogue these various breeds and sub-types of Rahi, and even collect a few for his own personal collections in stasis.

           Trydahk once devised a species of Rahi with complex patterns, with no pattern ever being quite the same amongst any individual. Then there was a species of butterfly with extravagant wings that came in gorgeus arrays of colors, constantly shimmering with just the slightest differences here or there. Many Rahi had variations amongst their kind, as a result of regional adaptations- If Trydahk’s Rahi could not naturally adapt to their environment, then he would make the occasional adjustment here or there to a group accordingly. He was one of the few Makuta who tolerated Mutran’s habit of altering others’ Rahi without their permission.

          He was particularly interested in accidental Rahi and creations not intended within the designs of anyone, as well as Rahi not created by the Makuta; The Protocairns were delightful to him, and despite being sapient, Trydahk had added quite a few Zyglak to his collection. Trydahk was a collector at heart- And a collection needs to be able to last. He was well-versed in the power of Stasis, and his desire to store, preserve, and reliably transport things led to his invention of the Trydahk Pods; Space-warping storage containers that could hold more space on the inside than their outsides would suggest. With his Rahi, while not all of them had a longevity… There were a couple that did, such as a microscopic species of tardigrade that could go into extended periods of hibernation, and then awake centuries later as if nothing had happened. Trydahk also created a species of fish that would bury itself into the mud prior to a drought… The drought would dry up the mud with the fish inside- But when the rains returned, the mud and the fish within would rehydrate, and continue on their business like nothing happened.

           Hibernators were amongst Trydahk’s portfolio, with some creatures capable of undergoing unprecedently extended periods of time by generating their personal stasis fields. Trydahk once made an insect that could even survive fossilization… Its cells and components would have the ability to reverse petrification. Others couldn’t recover from this, but they managed to lay microscopic eggs that would survive. Once, a volcano had buried an entire region underneath a layer of ash, and many of the buried victims were a species of Trydahk’s. When the ash was unearthed centuries later, the fossilized remains were left behind; But microscopic eggs still within the pouches of those deceased Rahi remained, and when exposed to water and decent conditions, were able to hatch anew as if nothing happened!

           Aside from preservation, Trydahk also dabbled in microscopic Rahi, more than most… He enjoyed testing his limits, creating creatures that were tinier and tinier. He had dominion over Space and was able to warp it to teleport and access other locations, as well as ignore/alter size. Trydahk utilized his specialties well to create microscopic species, and designed a fair amount of Rahi that could adjust their sizes. He once worked with Bitil to create the Protodites, and collaborated with his partner and Antroz to design the prehistoric Kikikori Nui.

           Even some of Trydahk’s Rahi displayed his obsessive penchant for collection- Such as a bird Rahi that frequently picked up odd trinkets here or there, and compiled them into its nest. Often times this species would display its collection in order to impress and attract mates. Trydahk had a few primates with a natural curiosity for unusual things, who would steal from passing-by travelers and hold onto these souvenirs with a stubborn might. With Teridax and Kojol, Trydahk had made a few creatures, such as a species of bird, which effectively utilized primitive tools and materials from its environment to access resources.

           A few of his creations were masterful escape artists, able to disappear at a moment’s notice, such as by turning invisible and/or camouflaging… While others were incredibly difficult to capture and hold down, such as a species of slipper, elastic eel. Trydahk knew the art of evasion well, and it was a big reason as to why Teridax had entrusted him with overseeing Destral during the Destiny War… Although even his best efforts weren’t good enough, according to Tobduk.

           Amidst Rahi-creating, Trydahk was also a fan of cataloguing various species. He went out of his way to record the variations and different types of Rahi his brethren had made, and was intent on learning of some of Kojol’s mysterious, secret Rahi… Oftentimes he would collect a unique specimen here or there for his own collection. Trydahk would often go on extensive escapades into unknown territory, such as in the Southern Straits, in search of the unusual and bizarre, and the rumored.

#bionicle #trydahk #tridax #makuta #brotherhood of makuta #rahi #fanon #headcanons