Integrated Weed Management in Transplanted Rice (Oryza sativa)

A field experiment was conducted during the kharif season of 2010 and 2011 at the Regional Research Station, Kalimpong (1250 m a.s.l), to find out eff ective and suitable method of weed control in transplanted rice under mid hill conditions. The major weed found in control plot were Echinochloa crus-galli, Echinochloa colonum, Cynodon dactylon Cyperus rotundus, Cyperusiria, Cyperus difformis, Fimbristylis miliaceae, Ammania baccifera, Ludwigia parviflora. Pre-emergence application of metsulfuron methyl + chlorimuron ethyl supplemented with one hand weeding at 40 DAT, provided a broad - spectrum weed control and was significantly superior to rest all other integrated approach of weed control. The highest weedcontrol efficiency (91.4%) was also recorded under this treatment. The grain yield was highest with hand weeding thrice (6.61 t/ha) which was comparable with treatment of metsulfuron methyl + chlorimuron ethyl (0.005 kg/ha) supplemented with one hand weeding (6.47 t/ha). The highest benefit: cost ratio was with metsulfuron methyl + chlorimuron ethyl (0.005 kg/ha) supplemented with one hand weeding at 40 DAT (2.18) and was followed by pretilachlor (0.5 kg/ha) followed by one hand weeding (2.14). Metsulfuron methyl + chlorimuron ethyl (0.005 kg/ha) followed by one hand weeding at 40 DAT controlled weed population and gave yield a ributing traits and yield comparable to those of hand weeding thrice and proved more remunerative than other weed management practices.