Indian Journal of Agronomy

An experiment was conducted during the rainy season (kharif) of 2011 and 2012 at Bengaluru, Karnataka to evaluate the effect of integrated package of agro-techniques on weeds and aerobic rice (Oryza sativa L.). The experiment was set up in a randomized complete-block design replicated thrice, consisting of 10 treatment combinations of recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF), FYM, FeSO₄ and biofertilizers along with pre-emergence herbicide pyrazosulfuron ethyl at 25 g a.i./ha alone and with integrated weed-management practices. Along with this, site-specific nutrient management for targeted yield of 6.5 and 7.5 t/ha, respectively, + integrated weed management practices were also tried. Treatments receiving integrated weed management practices (pre-emergence herbicide pyrazosulfuron ethyl at 25 g a.i./ha + hand-weeding at 20 days after sowing + first intercultivation 25 days after sowing and subsequent intercultivations at 15 days interval up to panicle-initiation stage) recorded significantly lower weed population, weed dry weight and nutrient uptake by weeds than pre-emergence application of pyrazosulfuron ethyl alone. Application of RDF + FYM + biofertilizers + FeSO₄ + integrated weed management resulted in significantly higher grain and straw yields, water productivity and nutrient uptake (N, P, K, Zn and Fe) by crop than that with RDF + FYM + pyrazosulfuron ethyl at 25 g a.i./ha. Similar trend was also observed for net returns and benefit: cost ratio.