Weed management in rice (Oryza sativa)-fallow for enhancement in productivity and profitability of rice-zero till toria (Brassica campestris) system

A field experiment was conducted during 2013-14 and 2014-15 at Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India to develop management practices for rice (Oryza sativa L.)-toria (Brassica campestris L.) cropping system in rice fallows. During the rainy season (kharif), 7 crop-establishment methods were tried in rice in randomized block design with 3 replications. During winter (rabi) season zero-till toria was raised on residual soil-moisture conditions. The residual effects of 7 crop-establishment methods imposed in rice and 3 weed-management practices in succeeding toria were tried in split-plot design with 3 replications. Pooled over seasons, transplanting in rice + bispyribac-Na @ 0.02 kg/ha at 21 days after transplanting (DAT) + mechanical weeding at 35 DAT and sequential application of glyphosate 1.0 kg/ha as pre-planting desiccation (PPD) and quizalofop ethyl 0.05 kg/ha as post-emergence recorded the maximum rice-equivalent yield of 5,792 kg/ha and 2 treatment combinations, viz. transplanting + bispyribac-Na @ 0.02 kg/ha (21 DAT) + mechanical weeding (35 DAT) in rice and glyphosate 1.0 kg/ha (PPD) alone or quizalofop ethyl alone in toria recorded similar system yield. Transplanting in rice + bispyribac-Na @ 0.02 kg/ha at 21 days after sowing (DAS) + mechanical weeding (35 DAS) and glyphosate 1.0 kg/ha in toria gave the maximum system net return of 40,392/ha. Line sowing in direct-seeded rice with pendimethalin as pre-emergence spray + hand-weeding (35 DAS) or transplanting in rice with bispyribac-Na @ 0.02 kg/ha as post-emergence spray (21 DAS) + mechanical weeding (35 DAS) and glyphosate 1.0 kg/ha (PPD) in toria may be recommended for maximizing productivity and profitability.