Effect of chemical weed management on growth, yield and economics of drum seeded rice (Oryza sativa)

Field experiment was conducted at Periyanarkunam, Bhuvanagiri Taluk, Cuddalore District during Kuruvai 2021 and 2022 to study the effect of different herbicidal weed management on growth, yield and economics of drum seeded rice (Oryza sativa L.) variety ‘ASD 16’. The experiment was conducted in randomized block design with four replications. The treatments comprised of six weed management practices and are made up of a combination of herbicides (pre-emergence, early-post and post-emergence herbicides) with hand weeding, which was com- pared with unweeded control and twice hand weeding on 25 and 45 DAS. Application of bensulfuron methyl 0.6% + pretilachlor 6% GR @ 660 g a.i./ha PE fb metsulfuron methyl 10% + chlorimuron ethyl 10% WP @ 4 g a.i./ha PoE on 25 DAS fb hand weeding on 45 DAS recorded the highest weed control efficiency of 77.55 and 74.23% during Kuruvai 2021 and 2022 respectively, growth attributes at 60 DAS viz., plant height (96.82 and 91.79 cm), tillers/m2 (367 and 343) and dry matter production (8.01 and 7.78 t/ha), yield attributes like productive tillers/m2 (319 and 312), filled grains/panicle (100.64 and 98.42), grain yield (6.19 and 6.11 t/ha) and benefit cost ratio (2.78 and 2.49) during Kuruvai 2021 and 2022, respectively over bispyribac sodium 10% SC @ 25 g a.i./ha PoE on 20 DAS fb hand weeding on 45 DAS (farmers practice). Hence, it is an efficient weed management practice and an economically feasible method for achieving the maximum growth, yield and economics of drum seeded rice.