Efficacy of fenoxaprop-p-ethyl and penoxsulam for weed management with special emphasis on Echinochloa spp. in transplanted summer rice

Abstract

An on-farm experiment was conducted during summer (boro) season of 2016-17 at farmer’s field (Borah village of Nanoor Block) in Birbhum district, West Bengal to study the efficacy of fenoxaprop-p-ethyl and penoxsulam against composite weed flora with special emphasis on Echinochloa spp. in transplanted rice. The experiment comprising of eight treatments was laid out in a randomized block design with three replications. The experimental field was dominated with Echinochloa glabrescens, E. crus-galli, Panicum sp. (grasses), Cyperus iria (sedge) and Jussiaea repens (broad-leaved) throughout the crop growing period. Of these predominant weeds, there was severe infestation of grassy weeds. Among herbicidal treatments, fenoxaprop-p-ethyl 90 and 100 g/ha at 20 days after transplanting (DAT) and penoxsulam 25 g/ha at 20 DAT effectively controlled the Echinochloa spp. at 50 DAT. Application of penoxsulam 25 g/ha at 20 DAT exhibited effective management of composite weed flora as well as higher grain yield in summer rice. Lower values of weed density and weed dry weight along with improved weed control efficiency and higher grain yield were registered with penoxsulam 25 g/ha at 20 DAT, which was statistically at par with two rounds of hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAT in summer rice.