Imperata cylindrica is one of the most noxious weeds in South East Asia.

Over
the past two decades significant advances have been made in the understanding
of its biology and control. This paper reviews work over this period and concludes
that despite such advances, there remains much scope for improvement of
control, particularly in development of methods appropriate for small scale
farmers with limited resources.

Cogon grass is found on roadsides, mining sites, borrow pits, and other areas of soil
disturbance, and is able to invade moist to dry upland pine sites, Following initial invasion,
cogon grass often forms dense, field-like monocultures.
Cogon grass spreads readily on disturbed sites and through movement of soil contaminated
with small pieces of rhizome or seed (often due to site disturbance in timber harvest, site
preparation, road grading, use of contaminated fill dirt, etc.). Cogon grass infestations can
reduce pine survival and growth, and in fire situations, may result in complete mortality of
overstory trees due to flammable oils in the grass blades raising the intensity and severity of
prescribed burns. Over time cogon grass may significantly impact management and
productivity of pines on infested sites.