Effect of Different Method of Rice Establishment and Weed Management Options on Yield and Economics of Paddy

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during rabi 2022 at Zonal Agricultural and Horticultural Research Station, Brahmavara, Udupi, Keladi Shivappa Nayaka University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Shivamogga, on sandy loam soil to study the effect of different method of rice establishment and weed management options on yield and economics of paddy. The experiment was laid out in Factorial Randomized Complete Block Design with broadcasting and drum seeder method of establishment and five treatment combinations, replicated thrice. The study revealed that, the weed free treatment maintained by hand weeding recorded highest growth parameters and rice grain yield. The sequential application of pre-emergence herbicide pendimethalin 38.7 % CS @ 750 g a.i. ha-1 at 0-3 DAS (fb) early post-emergence application of bispyribac sodium 10 % SC @ 25 g a.i ha-1 at 13-15 DAS, recorded lowest total weed density (36.92, 31.73 and 40.45 No. m-2)  at 15, 30 and 45 DAS, respectively and lower weed index (7.23%) under drum seeder method of establishment . The yield and yield attributing parameters like number of tillers (291.33 m-2), panicle length (19 cm), filled grains (89.33 panicle-1), grain yield (4221 kg ha-1) and straw yield (5387 kg ha-1) were observed in sequential application of pre-emergence herbicide pendimethalin 38.7 % CS @ 750 g a.i. ha-1 at 0-3 DAS (fb) early post-emergence application of bispyribac sodium 10 % SC @ 25 g a.i ha-1 at 13-15 DAS under the drum seeder method of establishment. The highest net return (₹ 82586 ha-1) and B:C ratio (2.81) was also recorded in the same treatment.