Response of direct seeded rice (Oryza sativa L.) Across diverse tillage system and weed control practices

A field experiment was carried out to evaluate the performance of direct seeded upland rice and to determine the most efficient and cost-effective approach under different tillage and weed management techniques during the kharif seasons of 2021 and 2022 at School of Agricultural Sciences (SAS), Nagaland University, Medziphema.Treatments were laid out in split plot design (SPD) and replicated thrice with three tillage system in the main plot and six weed management techniques in the sub-plot.Results revealed that broad-leaved weeds (BLWs) were reported to be the most dominant weeds accounting 72.79% of the total weed density at 60 DAS as compared to grasses and sedges accounting only 25.5% and 1.62%.Tillage system and weed management techniques showed differential effect recording the lowest density and biomass of grasses, sedges and broad-leaved weeds (BLWs) and weed index under conventional tillage system with sequential application of pendimethalin @ 1 kg ha -1 (PE) fb bispyribac sodium @ 25 g ha -1 (PoE) at 25 DAS.Significantly maximum plant height, number of panicles m -2 , number of filled grains panicle -1 and straw yield were noticed under conventional tillage with pre-emergence application of pendimethalin @ 1 kg ha -1 (PE) fb bispyribac sodium @ 25 g ha -1 (PoE) at 25 DAS.However, the maximum net returns and B:C ratio were recorded under zero tillage system and application of pendimethalin @ 1 kg ha -1 (PE) fb bispyribac sodium @ 25 g ha -1 (PoE) at 25 DAS.