Abstract

A field investigation was carried out at the Instructional farm, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 2000-2001 to assess the effect of spacing and weed management practices on the performance of basmati rice. The treatments comprised of three spacings (15x15, 20x10 and 15x10 cm) and five weed control treatments (weed free check, unweeded control, hand weeding twice at 20 and 40 DAT, anilofos+2,4-DEE (readymix) 0.40+0.53 kg ha at 6 DAT supplemented with hand weeding at 20 DAT and anilofos+2,4-DEE (readymix) 0.40+0.53 kg ha' at 6 DAT supplemented with 2,4-D sodium salt 1 kg ha at 20 DAT). Grasses were the predominant weed species observed in the experimental field. Unchecked weed competition reduced grain yield to the tune of 46%. Herbicides were most effective in controlling the weeds. The results revealed that with 20x1 Ocm spacing (50 hills m2), pre-emergence application of anilofos+2,4-DEE (readymix) 0.40+0.53 kg ha supplemented with 2,4-D sodium salt 1 kg ha¹ could result in maximum grain yield and minimum weed competition.

Keywords: Spacing, weed control, basmati rice, readymix, anilofos, 2,4-D ethyl ester and 2,4-D sodium salt.