Evaluation of Growth, Phenology, Yield and Weed Dynamics as Influenced by Integrated Weed Management in Black Rice Cultivars under Nagaland Condition

Black rice a special type of rice species known in multiple ways through its beneficial nutrients and health needs and are in need to be cultivated to its outmost potential. Cultivation of weed suppressible variety along with integrated weed management can be considered for high outcome of yield.

A farm trial during kharif season of 2021 and 2022 was laid out in split plot design (SPD) on the experimental field of School of Agricultural Sciences (SAS), Nagaland University, Nagaland consisting of four integrated weed management in the main plot while sub-plot consisting of four cultivars respectively.

Grasses, sedges and broad-leaved weeds with a total of 11 species were identified and recorded dominant. Lowest depletion of nutrients by weed was observed with hand weeding at 15 and 30 DAS with cultivar Chakhao Poireiton and was followed with application of pretilachlor @ 1.0 kg ha^-1 (PE) fb HW at 40 DAS. Hand weeding at 15 and 30 DAS along with cultivar Chakhao Poireiton exhibited highest plant height, LAI and biological yield and was closely followed with application of pretilachlor @ 1.0 kg ha^-1 (PE) fb HW at 40 DAS with Chakhao Poireiton, while similar results were also observed with the phenological studies. Further, weedy check recorded lowest plant height and LAI. However, plant population showed no significant variation with context to integrated weed management and different cultivars in both the years. Additionally, correlation studies revealed a strong negative correlation between plant height and nutrient depletion by weeds.