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A handbbok on Weed Control in Rice.pdf

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Direct seeded <strong>on</strong><br />

puddled soil<br />

In direct seeded irrigated rice culture,<br />

the field is leveled after puddl<strong>in</strong>g and<br />

pregerm<strong>in</strong>ated seeds are broadcast or<br />

mach<strong>in</strong>e-drilled <strong>on</strong>to the puddled soil.<br />

Direct seed<strong>in</strong>g, also known as wet<br />

seed<strong>in</strong>g, is practiced <strong>in</strong> parts of India,<br />

Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka and has<br />

become an <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>gly important rice<br />

crop establishment method <strong>in</strong> South-<br />

east Asia. Broadcast seeded flooded<br />

rice is also practiced <strong>in</strong> several ra<strong>in</strong>fed<br />

areas <strong>in</strong> South and Southeast Asia<br />

(De Datta and Fl<strong>in</strong>n 1986).<br />

Direct seed<strong>in</strong>g has become an<br />

acceptable alternative to transplant<strong>in</strong>g<br />

as labor costs have <strong>in</strong>creased, less<br />

expensive herbicides have become<br />

available, and irrigated area has<br />

<strong>in</strong>creased. However, root anchorage is<br />

poor, and lodg<strong>in</strong>g can be more serious<br />

<strong>in</strong> direct seeded than <strong>in</strong> transplanted<br />

rice.<br />

<strong>Weed</strong> problems<br />

Unc<strong>on</strong>trolled weeds <strong>in</strong> direct seeded<br />

flooded rice can reduce yields about<br />

53%. The culture requires shallow<br />

flood<strong>in</strong>g, which results <strong>in</strong> more<br />

exposed soil areas and aerobic c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s.<br />

Because rice and weeds germ<strong>in</strong>ate<br />

and emerge together, competiti<strong>on</strong><br />

is more <strong>in</strong>tense than <strong>in</strong> transplanted<br />

rice. The range of herbicides that can<br />

be used safely is also limited, because<br />

rice and the weeds are at the same<br />

development stages.<br />

Lowland weeds such as E. crus-gall,<br />

Ischaemum rugosum, Leptochloa<br />

ch<strong>in</strong>ensis, Cyperus difformis, Fimbristylis<br />

miliacea, and Scirpus maritimus are<br />

adapted to the wet c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s of direct<br />

seeded flooded rice.<br />

76 <strong>Weed</strong> c<strong>on</strong>trol handbook<br />

Land preparati<strong>on</strong><br />

Thorough land preparati<strong>on</strong> is essential<br />

<strong>in</strong> direct seeded flooded rice. Land<br />

preparati<strong>on</strong> is similar to that for trans-<br />

planted flooded rice. However, the<br />

f<strong>in</strong>al level<strong>in</strong>g of the field is even more<br />

critical than for transplanted rice<br />

because the water level <strong>in</strong> direct<br />

seeded fields is kept shallow. An<br />

uneven land surface results <strong>in</strong> areas<br />

where the soil surface is exposed to air.<br />

That creates an ideal c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong> for<br />

weed germ<strong>in</strong>ati<strong>on</strong> and growth. <strong>Rice</strong><br />

stands <strong>in</strong> areas that have deeper<br />

flood<strong>in</strong>g will be reduced.<br />

Plant<strong>in</strong>g method<br />

<strong>Rice</strong> seeds are pregerm<strong>in</strong>ated (soaked<br />

<strong>in</strong> water for 24 h, then <strong>in</strong>cubated for<br />

48 h) before they are sown <strong>in</strong> the field.<br />

This assures a quick and even stand.<br />

Pregerm<strong>in</strong>ated rice seeds may be<br />

broadcast or mach<strong>in</strong>e drilled. Mechan-<br />

ical weed<strong>in</strong>g is possible when seeds<br />

are drilled <strong>in</strong> rows.<br />

Cultivar<br />

The cultivar used should have excel-<br />

lent seedl<strong>in</strong>g vigor and good tiller<strong>in</strong>g<br />

capacity. IRRI and nati<strong>on</strong>al programs<br />

have released several such rices.<br />

Plant populati<strong>on</strong><br />

Close spac<strong>in</strong>g is essential to reduce<br />

weed <strong>in</strong>festati<strong>on</strong> and for high gra<strong>in</strong><br />

yields. In wet seeded rice, less weed<br />

competiti<strong>on</strong> has been observed with<br />

seed<strong>in</strong>g rates of 100 kg/ha and higher.<br />

Where weeds are not a problem, no<br />

rice gra<strong>in</strong> yield advantage has been<br />

observed at these seed<strong>in</strong>g rates.<br />

Water management<br />

Good water management is an important<br />

factor <strong>in</strong> weed c<strong>on</strong>trol <strong>in</strong> direct<br />

seeded flooded rice. Seeds are broadcast<br />

<strong>on</strong>to puddled soil with little or no<br />

stand<strong>in</strong>g water. The water level is<br />

<strong>in</strong>creased gradually as the rice grows.<br />

Because the field cannot be flooded<br />

until seedl<strong>in</strong>gs are established, some<br />

weeds will grow al<strong>on</strong>g with the rice.<br />

After rice establishment, the water<br />

level should be raised as rapidly as<br />

possible without damag<strong>in</strong>g the young<br />

rice seedl<strong>in</strong>gs, then kept uniform and<br />

c<strong>on</strong>t<strong>in</strong>uous. <strong>Weed</strong> emergence and the<br />

type of weeds that emerge are closely<br />

related to floodwater depth. Shallow<br />

(less than 2.5 cm), c<strong>on</strong>t<strong>in</strong>uous flood<strong>in</strong>g<br />

facilitates weed growth.<br />

For preemergence herbicide applicati<strong>on</strong><br />

<strong>in</strong> direct seeded flooded rice,<br />

the follow<strong>in</strong>g water management is<br />

suggested.<br />

Keep the field saturated from<br />

sow<strong>in</strong>g to herbicide applicati<strong>on</strong>. If<br />

the soil dries with<strong>in</strong> this period, add<br />

enough water to resaturate the<br />

plots.<br />

Flood the field to 2-3 cm deep and<br />

apply herbicide directly <strong>in</strong>to the<br />

water.<br />

Raise water depth to 5 cm 1 wk<br />

after herbicide applicati<strong>on</strong> and<br />

ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong> that depth until 1 wk<br />

before harvest.<br />

Fertilizer<br />

High fertilizer applicati<strong>on</strong> to <strong>in</strong>crease<br />

yields of modern improved rice<br />

cultivars enhances weed growth.<br />

Incorporat<strong>in</strong>g N <strong>in</strong>to the seedbed at<br />

5-10 cm reduces N losses and at the<br />

same time reduces the availability of N<br />

to weed seedl<strong>in</strong>gs that germ<strong>in</strong>ate near<br />

the soil surface.

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