Effect of non-chemical weed management and planting geometry on weed growth, yield and economics in dry direct-seeded rice (Oryza sativa) cultivars

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy (kharif) seasons of 2015 and 2016 Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, to study the effect of non-chemical weed management and planting geometry on weed growth, yield and profitability of dry direct-seeded rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars. The experiment consisted of 2 planting geometry (Seed drill sown crop and square planting), 2 cultivars (`Arize 6444` and `PHB 71`) and 5 non-chemical weed management treatments (weedy, 1 hoeing at 12 DAS fb hand-weeding at 30 DAS, 1 hoeing at 12 @ DAS fb Sesbania incorporated at 45 DAS, 1 hoeing at 12 DAS fb straw mulching @ 4 t/ha fb hand-weeding at 40 DAS, 1 hoeing at 12 DAS fb straw mulching (6 t/ha). Square planting recorded lower weed biomass, higher weed-control efficiency, grain yield (4.19 t/ha) and net returns (41,605.57/ha). Rice cultivar Arize 6444 also recorded lower weed biomass, higher weed-control efficiency, higher grain yield (4.24 t/ha) and net returns (42,256.73/ha). One hoeing at 12 DAS fb hand weeding at 30 DAS reduced weed growth and increased weed-control efficiency, grain yield (4.85 t/ha) and net returns (57,018.94/ha).