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Weed Management in Lowland Rice

G.J.U. Ahmed
Agronomy Division, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Joydebpur, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh

AJ Mridha,
Agronomy Division, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Joydebpur, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh

M.S. Hasan
Agronomy Division, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Joydebpur, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh

M.A. Jabbar
Agronomy Division, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Joydebpur, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh

C.R. Riches
International Rice Research Institute, DAPO Box 7777, Metro Manila, Philippines

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Over the past 30 years increasing access to irrigation had led to the intensification of rice production in Bangladesh. Although a high proportion of farms now produce a high yielding irrigated crop in the otherwise dry Boro season, a rainfed crop produced during the main monsoon T.Aman season remains an important component of farmer livelihoods. Yields vary between seasons but annually may reach ten tonnes/ha. On-farm studies in two villages in the Comilla district indicated that the yield gap in the T.Aman crop (2000) between production under farmer management and the potential yield under weed free conditions averages 425 kg/ha. It can be as high as 1 t /ha. with 30% of farmers loosing in excess of 500 kg/ha. A variety of participatory research methods were used to understand current weeding practices and farmers' perceptions of weed problems and weed control. Farmer focus group discussions indicated that growers recognize the importance of timely weeding of the transplanted T. Aman crop but that this has a high labour requirement. Research trials indicated that a range of weed control practices, including the use of herbicides and mechanical weeding, have the potential for reducing labour inputs.

Keywords: Weed management, Low land, Rice

Location: BRRI, Gazipur-1701

Start Date: 01-10-2000

End Date: 31-05-2002

Program Area: Pest Management

Commodity: Weed management

Objectives:

A study was undertaken to observe the effect of weed management in low land rice

Methodology:

The study was undertaken in two villages; Chowara where farmers plant rice in both the Boro and T-Aman seasons and in Paruara where the Boro/ T .AusIT.Aman planting pattern predominates. Focus group discussions with 41 farmers were undertaken by a multi-disciplinary group of scientists, social scientists, and Comilla district, Department of Agricultural Extension personnel, in the two study villages in October 2000. Issues explored were: land tenure and land contracts, weeding practices, knowledge about herbicides, ranking of problem weeds and access to credit. In January 2001 a structured questionnaire was administered to a random sample of 30 households in each village. The discussions and questionnaire concentrated on the-T.Aman season, future research will address the Boro crop.

Ten farmers from each village provided a field for a yield gap study. Two plots, each of 25 m² were marked out in each field after the 2000 T.Aman crop had been transplanted. One was left unweeded while the other was maintained weed free for the first 50 days after transplanting (DAT) by manual weeding at 21, 33 and 50 (DAT) in addition to any weeding done by the farmer. The timing and frequency of weeding on the remaining portion of the field was decided by the farmer. Decisions on all other aspects of crop management including choice of cultivar, time of transplanting and fertility management, which were uniform for the entire field, were made by individual farmers. Rice yield data were collected from sub-plots of 10 m² at Chowara and 4 m² at Paruara. -Data were analysed using a mixed model design, farms being nested within villages.

Source of Information: Bangladesh j. crop sci. 2004,13-15: 13-18

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1. Government

Budget: 55000/-

Total Budget (Tk.) : 55000/-

Achievement/Findings:

Farmers weeded the T.Aman crop twice (47%) or three times (53%) - often using a combination of weeding methods. Some 87% used both a hand pushed rotary weeder and hand weeding (by hand pulling, with a hoe or sickle) with the remainder relying on hand weeding only. Small weeds were uprooted and pushed into the soil; some farmers removed grass weeds for fodder. Hand weeding was perceived as the most effective method for removing weeds, particularly among rice plants, but it is costly and arduous. The weeder was perceived as convenient and relatively fast, though its use was subject to soil moisture condition, a saturated soil being ideal, and supplementary weeding was needed in the crop row. While the use of hired local or migrant labour for weeding was common, farmers did not always involve themselves in weeding.

Knowledge Management: Journal