Methods of seeding and cultivars effect on weed dynamics in direct-seeded rice under rainfed upland conditions of Nagaland

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted during Kharif season of 2009 and 2010 to study the effect of methods of seeding and rice cultivars on dynamics of weeds in direct-seeded rice under rainfed upland conditions of Nagaland. Two seeding methods viz., line seeding and broadcasting and four local direct-seeded rice cultivars, viz. ‘Kezie’, ‘Chongloiman’, ‘Leikhumo’ and ‘Kotsala’ were evaluated under the trial in splitplot design. A total of 29 weed species were recorded, out of which Digitaria setigera Roth ex Roem. & Schult, Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., Cyperus rotundus Linn., Borreria articularis (L. f.) F. N. Will., Ipomoea triloba L. and Mimosa pudica L. were the dominant weed species. The line sowing was found superior over broadcasting in recording lower density, biomass and relative weed growth rate of grass, sedge and broad-leaf weeds. It also recorded significantly higher grain yield of rice. Among the cultivars, ‘Chongloiman’ and ‘Kezie’ were at par with each other and recorded significantly lower density and biomass of associated grass, sedge and broad-leaved weeds. The highest grain yield during both the years was recorded by the cultivar ‘Chongloiman’ which was at par with ‘Kezie’.