Weed Dynamics, Productivity and Profitability of Transplanted Aman Rice as Influenced by Integrated Nutrient Management and Weeding Regime

Abstract

The excessive and improper application of fertilizers is the key factor contributing to nutrient losses to the environment and a decrease in the fertility of the soil. Also, using the wrong herbicide, applying higher than the recommended rate, or improper timing of application can cause crop damage. These factors adversely affect soil productivity and environmental stability. There is thus a need to expand an effective and inexpensive integrated nutrient management and weed control practice for acquiring better yields and profit from rice. The aim of the study was to find out the effect of six integrated nutrient management i.e., BRRI Recommended Dose (RD) of chemical fertilizer, 50% RD + 5 t of cowdung ha-1, 50% RD + 10 t of cowdung ha-1, 50% RD + 2.5 t of poultry manure ha-1, 50% RD + 5 t of poultry manure ha-1, USG 1.8 g 4 hills-1 + TSP, MoP, Gypsum and ZnSO4 @RD along with four weeding regimes i.e., control (no weeding), pre-emergence herbicide followed by one hand weeding at 30 DAT, early post-emergence herbicide followed by one hand weeding at 30 DAT, pre-emergence herbicide followed by early post-emergence herbicide on weed control, rice productiveness, and profitability. Our findings suggest that the application of 50% of the RD of chemical fertilizer + 5 t of poultry manure ha-1 with the application of pre-emergence herbicide followed by early post-emergence herbicide enhances weed suppression and provides higher rice productivity and profitability and can be practiced for the maximization of the yield and net return of transplanted aman rice.