Abstract

Field experiments were conducted during rabi 2007-08 and 2008-09, to evaluate crop establishment techniques and weed management practices under System of Rice Intensification. The experiments were laid out in split plot design with three replications. The main plot consisted of three age of seedlings viz., 14, 18 and 22 days old with two levels of planting methods viz., SRI planting and mechanical planting. Four weed management practices viz., hand weeding twice at 25 and 45 DAT, mechanical weeding thrice at 10, 25 and 45 DAT, pre emergence application of butachlor @ 1.25 kg a.i. ha-1 + two mechanical weeding at 25 and 45 DAT and unweeded check were assigned to sub plot. Transplanting of 14 days old seedlings with manual planting and pre emergence application of butachlor @ 1.25 kg a.i. ha-1 + two mechanical weeding at 25 and 45 DAT significantly reduced the weed density, weed DMP, nutrient removal and improved the growth parameters, yield attributes and yield of rice.

Keywords: SRI, age of seedlings, mechanical weeding, butachlor