Evaluating Mechanical Weeding as a Sustainable Technique for Weed Management in Aerobic Rice Systems in South Gujarat | Chapter 13| Agricultural Sciences: Techniques and Innovations Vol. 4

The experiment entitled Weed management in aerobic rice cultivation in South Gujarat, India was conducted during the kharif seasons of 2020-2022 at the Main Rice Research Centre, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat. The experiment was carried out with the goal to provide an efficient, environmentally friendly method and substantially reduce the cost of weed control for rice production. The different ten weed management treatments, viz. mulching with paddy straw @ 5 t/ha at the time of sowing; mulching (paddy straw @ 5 t/ha) at the time of sowing + bispyribac sodium 10 % SC, 10 ml/10 lit water at 20 days after sowing (DAS); mechanical weeding using weeder; chemical weed control (pre-pendimethalin @ 1.5 kg a.i./ha at 2-3 DAS and post- bispyribac sodium 10 % SC, at 20 DAS); mechanical weeding + bispyribac sodium 10 % SC, at 20 DAS; pre emergence herbicide (pendimethalin @ 1.5 kg a.i./ha) followed by one mechanical weeding at maximum tillering stage of crop; Intercropping in rice with sesbania (incorporation after 1 to 1.5 month of sowing); raised bed system of cultivation with application of bispyribac-sodium @ 200-250 ml/ha at 2-3 leaf stage of weeds at 20-25 DAS; weed free and weedy check were evaluated under randomized block design with three replications. The results revealed that total weed density-grasses, sedges and broad-leaved weed and dry weed biomass was affected by different weed management practices as compared to unweeded practices. Broad-leaved weeds were the top ranking weed types with the highest degree of weed infestation compared to grasses and sedge types of weeds. Total weed density and dry weed biomass were significantly lower with mechanical weed management practices than the unweeded check, which was heavily infested with weeds. The higher weed control efficiency of 61.49 and 43.97 (%) was recorded with weed-free and mechanical weeding practice as compared to the rest of the weed management treatments. Weed index (7.88) was also found to be lower with mechanical weeding practices. Yield attributes like number of panicle (per m2), panicle weight (gm); grain and straw yield (kg/ha) of rice were recorded significantly higher with weed-free and mechanical weeding practice and found equally effective. Looking at the economics, further mechanical weeding practice was found with a higher net return and benefit cost ratio. Thus, among different weed management practices, the mechanical weeding method was capable of avoiding the use of herbicides without any losses in weed control efficacy and yield. Further, this method found to be sustainable, efficient, non-chemical and eco-friendly in the aerobic system for rice production in South Gujarat.

 

 

Author(s) Details

Darpana Patel
Main Rice Research Centre, Soil and Water Management Research Unit, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat, India.

 

M. R. Gami
Main Rice Research Centre, Soil and Water Management Research Unit, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat, India.

 

P. B. Pate
N.M. College of Agriculture, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat, India.

 

Please see the book here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/asti/v4/6313