Weed control in direct-seeded rice with ready mix of penoxsulam + pendimethalin

Diverse weed flora in direct-seeded rice (DSR) has underscored the need to identify broad-spectrum pre-emergence (PE) herbicide for managing weeds and to realize the yield potential of DSR. This study assessed weed dynamics and DSR productivity response to PE herbicide treatments, viz. penoxsulam 1% + pendimethalin 24% (penoxsulam + pendimethalin) at 500, 562.5 and 625 g/ha, pendimethalin at 750 g/ha and unsprayed control, during Kharif 2021 and 2022 in Department of Agronomy at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. Penoxsulam + pendimethalin 625 g/ha PE was most effective in controlling the weeds and reducing weeds biomass, mainly of grasses and sedges. During both years, no significant effect of PE herbicides on rice plant height was recorded except unsprayed control. Penoxsulam + pendimethalin 625 g/ha increased the effective tillers/m2 of rice by 72% in 2021 and 87.8% in 2022 compared to unsprayed control. Moreover, penoxsulam + pendimethalin 625 g/ha significantly increased the mean grain yield of DSR by 187.0% (6.6 t/ha) compared with the unsprayed control (2.3 t/ha), but in 2022, it was at par to pendimethalin 750 g/ha (6.4 t/ha). Our study demonstrated that penoxsulam + pendimethalin 625 g/ha PE provided effective weed control by reducing weed biomass upto 30 DAS and enhanced productivity of DSR. However, need based post-emergence herbicide application needs to be done for better weed management in direct-seeded rice.