EVALUATION OF DRONE-APPLIED POST-EMERGENCE HERBICIDES ON WEED MANAGEMENT AND GRAIN YIELD IN TRANSPLANTED RICE (ORYZA SATIVA L.)

during kharif, (2022) to assess the post emergence herbicide efficacy for drone spraying in transplanted rice (Oryza sativa L.).The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with 7 treatments and replicated thrice.Results revealed that lower weed density, weed dry matter, lower nutrient removal by weeds and higher grain yield were noticed with hand weeding at 20, 40 and 60 DAT followed by application of penoxsulam 1.02% + cyhalofop-butyl 5.1% OD @ 180 g a.i ha -1 using drone and it was statistically on par with application of penoxsulam 1.02% + cyhalofop-butyl 5.1% OD @ 120 g a.i ha -1 using knapsack sprayer, application of penoxsulam 1.02% + cyhalofop-butyl 5.1% OD @ 150 g a.i ha -1 using drone and application of penoxsulam 1.02% + cyhalofop-butyl 5.1% OD @ 120 g a.i ha -1 using drone followed by application of penoxsulam 1.02 % + cyhalofop-butyl 5.1% OD @ 90 g a.i ha -1 using drone followed by unweeded control.The lower weed density, weed dry matter and higher grain yield were recorded in Hand weeding at 20,40 and 60 DAT.