Influence of alternative pre- and post-emergent herbicides on weeds and yield of direct-seeded rice

A field experiment was conducted at Research Farm, Division of Agronomy, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu during Kharif 2020 to evaluate the influence of pre- and post-emergence herbicides on weeds and yield of direct- seeded rice. The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design with three replications. The treatments evaluated in the study include: pre-emergence application of (PE) pendimethalin 1.0 kg/ha, pyrazosulfuron-ethyl 20 g/ha PE, pretilachlor 600 g/ha PE, pretilachlor + pyrazosulfuron ethyl 615 PE g/ha, post- emergence application (PoE) of bispyribac-sodium 25 g/ha PoE at 25 DAS, penoxsulam + cyhalofop-butyl 135 g/ha PoE at 25 DAS, triafamone + ethoxysulfuron 66.5 g/ha PoE at 25 DAS along with un-weeded control. Major weeds observed were: Echinochloa spp., Dactyloctenium aegyptium, Cynodon dactylon, Caesulia axillaris, Cyperus spp. and Phyllanthus niruri. Pretilachlor + pyrazosulfuron-ethyl 615 g/ha PE recorded significantly lower weed density and dry biomass at harvest with maximum weed control efficiency (87.10 %), higher grain yield, net returns and benefit: cost ratio (1.99). Amongst, post-emergent herbicides, triafamone + ethoxysulfuron 66.5 g/ha PoE at 25 DAS recorded minimum weed density, weed biomass with highest weed control efficiency (82.61%) at harvest, higher rice grain yield, net returns and benefit cost ratio (2.02).