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HERBICIDES in Asian rice - IRRI books - International Rice ...

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able ra<strong>in</strong>fall, with the result<strong>in</strong>g extreme moisture fluctuations, from drought to flood<br />

with<strong>in</strong> a s<strong>in</strong>gle cropp<strong>in</strong>g season. Soil moisture has been identified <strong>in</strong> most studies as<br />

the s<strong>in</strong>gle most critical factor affect<strong>in</strong>g weed control, even surpass<strong>in</strong>g the effects of<br />

fertilizer. In ra<strong>in</strong>fed areas, which make up a large part of the <strong>rice</strong> areas of Asia, ra<strong>in</strong>fall<br />

dictates when to plant <strong>rice</strong> and affects not only <strong>rice</strong> and weed growth but also factors<br />

related to weed control, notably herbicide efficacy. Because herbicides require optimum<br />

moisture for optimum efficacy, too little moisture dur<strong>in</strong>g a drought will result <strong>in</strong><br />

poor weed control, and too much moisture dur<strong>in</strong>g a flood will <strong>in</strong>jure <strong>rice</strong> (De Datta<br />

1980, Bernasor and De Datta 1983). This is significant <strong>in</strong> the grow<strong>in</strong>g trend toward<br />

adoption of wet-seeded <strong>rice</strong>, where crop stand and herbicide <strong>in</strong>jury are major problems,<br />

<strong>in</strong> particular when grass herbicides are used (Moody 1992). Study<strong>in</strong>g the relationship<br />

of moisture and herbicide activity may help provide answers on how to improve<br />

weed control dur<strong>in</strong>g drought and how to avoid <strong>rice</strong> <strong>in</strong>jury dur<strong>in</strong>g floods.<br />

The use of weed-competitive <strong>rice</strong> cultivars has possibilities as an <strong>in</strong>direct control<br />

alternative, should there be an opportunity to breed for this trait. A major issue that<br />

needs to be resolved is how to comb<strong>in</strong>e contrast<strong>in</strong>g traits, those that confer high yield<strong>in</strong>g<br />

ability with those that confer competitiveness, or whether this is even possible.<br />

Some morphophysiological traits of weeds that make them more aggressive competitors<br />

than <strong>rice</strong> have been identified that could serve as bases for consider<strong>in</strong>g traits to be<br />

<strong>in</strong>corporated <strong>in</strong>to a competitive, high-yield<strong>in</strong>g cultivar.<br />

Related to the development of competitive cultivars is the development of allelopathic<br />

cultivars. Allelopathic cultivars are be<strong>in</strong>g identified and factors related to their<br />

potential use <strong>in</strong> Asia are be<strong>in</strong>g studied. Identification of allelochemicals, either for<br />

use <strong>in</strong> develop<strong>in</strong>g botanical herbicides or for transfer of allelopathic traits <strong>in</strong>to commercially<br />

acceptable cultivars (if allelopathy is genetically determ<strong>in</strong>ed), is another<br />

option be<strong>in</strong>g explored.<br />

Development of transgenic, herbicide-resistant <strong>rice</strong> cultivars is another <strong>in</strong>direct<br />

control option. Two important questions need to be considered: 1) will herbicideresistant<br />

cultivars encourage <strong>in</strong>creased herbicide use, and 2) will herbicide-resistant<br />

cultivars result <strong>in</strong> the development of resistant weeds This new technology should be<br />

carefully studied <strong>in</strong> terms of both its feasibility and its short- and long-term impact on<br />

socioeconomic, environmental, and health-related issues <strong>in</strong> <strong>Asian</strong> <strong>rice</strong> production systems.<br />

Integrated weed management elements should take <strong>in</strong>to consideration all other<br />

practices <strong>in</strong> <strong>rice</strong> and <strong>rice</strong>-based production systems, if adoption of new technology is<br />

to be successful. While basic and strategic research are important, research that builds<br />

on farmer knowledge and practices is equally important. It is the partnership of science<br />

and <strong>rice</strong> farm<strong>in</strong>g that will facilitate the development of relevant <strong>in</strong>tegrated pest<br />

management (IPM) practices that <strong>in</strong>clude weed management strategies.<br />

160 De Datta and Baltazar

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