IMPROVEMENT OF RICE CULTIVATION TECHNOLOGY IN THE CONDI-TIONS OF KRASNODAR REGION

Herbicides are currently the most effective means of weed control. Nearly fifty years of their use in the Krasnodar Territory has shown that, in addition to their high cost and persistent organizational problems, this method has a number of negative consequences. This article examines the ecological and biological characteristics of rice and its weeds, analyzing the effectiveness of chemical and agronomic methods for managing them. Based on experimental data, new agronomic methods for weed control - specifically, for beard-grass and club-rush—are justified without the use of herbicides. It has been established that soil compaction and water regime regulation have a significant suppressive effect on weeds without reducing rice yields. The research results have laid the groundwork for the development of a herbicide-free rice cultivation technology for non-saline soils in the Krasnodar region. Therefore, the goal of our study is to justify and develop effective agronomic methods for controlling the main rice weeds - beard-grass and club-rush—by regulating the physical properties of the soil and water regime, while excluding the use of herbicides. The subjects of the study were rice crops and their accompanying weeds (beard-grass and club-rush) within the rice systems of the Krasnodar region. The focus of the research was on the effects of soil density, seed planting depth, and water regime on germination, development, and suppression of weeds in rice agrocenoses. Further research will ensure a significant reduction in weed infestation without negatively impacting rice. The proposed methods form the basis of a herbicide-free rice cultivation technology that promotes the ecological sustainability of agro-landscapes and enhances the competitiveness of the crop.