Agricultural Research Journal

This study investigates the impact of different weed management and integrated fertilizer management practices on the yield components and growth parameters of aromatic fine rice (cv. Binadhan-13). The field experiment was conducted at Bangladesh Agricultural University, Bangladesh. It comprised five weeding regimes [viz. control (no weeding), two hand weeding at 20 and 40 days after transplanting (DAT), Panida 33 EC @ 2.5 L ha^-1 (Pendimethalin, pre-emergence herbicide) applied at 3 DAT followed by one hand weeding at 40 DAT, Granite 240 SC @ 93.70 mL ha^-1 (Penoxsulam, post-emergence herbicide) applied at 14 DAT followed by one hand weeding at 40 DAT, and Panida at 3 DAT + Granite at 14 DAT], and four fertilizer management practices [viz. recommended dose of inorganic fertilizer (RDF), poultry manure (PM) @ 5 t ha^-1, 75% RDF + PM @ 2.5 t ha^-1, and 50% RDF + PM @ 2.5 t ha¹]. Weeding regimes significantly influenced weed dry matter production, with the lowest weed dry weight recorded under herbicide treatments combined with hand weeding. Additionally, integrated fertilizer management, particularly using 75% of the recommended dose of inorganic fertilizers combined with poultry manure, reduced weed biomass by 30% over the recommended inorganic fertilizer management. In terms of yield components of rice, the number of effective tillers, grains per panicle, and grain yield were significantly affected by both weed management and integrated nutrient management. The highest grain yield (3.73 t ha^-1) was observed with Panida 33 EC + Granite 240 SC, which resulted in optimal tillering and grain development. Integrated nutrient management, particularly 75% of the recommended dose of inorganic fertilizers + poultry manure, enhanced rice yield by improving tiller number and grain filling. The interaction between weed control and fertilizer management showed a synergistic effect on yield components, with the highest yield observed in plots receiving both effective weed management and balanced nutrient input. Regression analysis revealed a strong negative relationship between weed dry matter and grain yield, while a positive correlation was observed between chlorophyll content (SPAD value) and grain yield. This study highlights the importance of effective weed management combined with integrated nutrient management for optimizing rice growth, enhancing yield components, and improving overall productivity.