Abstract
The experiment site at UAPB agronomy farm was left undisturbed for several years for organic rice experiment. Soil samples taken in September 2015 showed that the experiment site was deficient with plant nutrients (NPK). Therefore, an organic fertilizer, Nature (8-5-5) was applied before planting mixture of crimson clover and winter wheat as cover crop in fall 2015. Biomass samples taken from the cover cropped land (CCL) and fallow land (FL) resulted in decrease in weed biomass by 33.36% and increase in total biomass by 46.78% in CCL than FL. Cover crops were incorporated one month before the rice sowing in June 2016. Fifteen rice cultivars were experimented for weed competition under water seeding cultivation method. Water seeding method was not effective to control the weeds as weeds dominated most of the rice plots since seedling stage. However, two rice cultivars namely Jasmine 85 and Rondo showed strong weed competition due to higher plant stand and better seedling establishment.
Highlights
Organic rice has started to gain popularity as the safer and healthier alternative, especially in developed countries [1]
Biomass samples taken from the cover cropped land (CCL) and fallow land (FL) resulted in decrease in weed biomass by 33.36% and increase in total biomass by 46.78% in CCL than FL
Varietal selection can be alternative to weed management in organic rice
Summary
Organic rice has started to gain popularity as the safer and healthier alternative, especially in developed countries [1]. Demand for organic rice is increasing with up to 50,000 acres produced in the USA [2]. Current organic rice production in US is unable to meet the current market demand. Major challenges in organic rice production include nutrient optimization, weed management and variety selection [5]. Weed competition is one of the prime yield limiting biotic constraints in rice [6]. Varietal selection can be alternative to weed management in organic rice. Likewise, flooding and cover cropping are tools in integrated weed management for organic rice production. Water seeding of rice is widely practiced in USA [7]. Water seeding takes advantage of that by establishing an early water covering to suppress weeds, but continuous flooding in water seeded rice culture encourages aquatic weeds, and when continuous flood is not maintained, it encourages semiaquatic weeds [7]
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