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Economic Weeding Method for Irrigated Rice Production in Bangladesh.

M Jahirul Islam
Principal Scientific Officer
Irrigation and Water Management Division,Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI).Gazipur -1701.

H. R. Molla
Senior Scientific Officer
Irrigation and Water Management,Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI).Gazipur -1701.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The study was conducted at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute Regional Station, Comilla, during three rice growing seasons. The experiment consists of six weeding treatments with three replications. The objective of the experiment was to determine an economic weeding method as well as to improve water management practices of paddy rice. The study indicates that the continuous ponding (100-150 mm) was not effective for weed control and high yield. Similarly, continuous ponding of 30-70 mm with one hand weeding was not economically sound. Two hand weeding or one hand weeding plus herbicides could be recommended where labors were available. Otherwise, only herbicides should be used to make weeding economic for profitable rice production. The study reveals that continuous ponding required about 1.5-2.0 times more water than intermittent irrigation.

Keywords: Weed control, Irrigated rice, Water saving, Herbicides..

Location: Bangladesh Rice Research Institute Regional Station, Comilla.

Start Date: 01-07-1996

End Date: 30-06-1997

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Rice

Objectives:

To investigate appropriate weeding technology to save irrigation water.

Methodology:

This study was conducted at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute Regional Station, Comilla, during three rice growing seasons (Boro/dry, Aus/wet and T.Aman/monsoon) of 1996-1997. The siol type of the experimental plots was clay loam having a pH value of 6.5 and 1.3% organic matter content. Herbicide ronstar (25 EC) which contains 250 g Oxadiazon as active ingredient/1 was used in this experiment. The study consists of six treatments as follows: T₁: Continuous ponding (100-150mm) and no weeding. T₂: Continuous ponding (30-70 mm) and one hand weeding at 30 days after transplanting. T₃: Irrigate (70 mm and allow the ponding water to disappear and re irrigate after days with two hand weeding. T₄: Irrigate as treatment T₃with application of the herbicide ronstar. T₅: Irrigate as treatment T₃ with ronster+one hand weeding at 30 DAT. T₆: Irrigate as treatment T₃ and no weeding. The treatments were arranged in Randomized Complete Block (RCB) design with three replications. The standard spacing for plant to plant and row to row of 250 mm x150 mm was maintained. The high yielding variety of BRRI dhan 29, 26 and 31 was used in the Boro, Aus & T. Aman seasons respectively. Fertilizer NPKS were applied at the rate of 80:60:40 kg/ha. The N as urea was applied in three equal splits (1/3 at 8 days after transplanting with ronstar where necessary + 1/3 at 25-30days after transplanting + 1/3 at panicle initiation stage). The individual plot size was 10 m x 8 m minimize the interference of water from one treatment to another a 750 mm wide drain and successive 500 mm wide levees were constructed in between different plots. Moreover, polyethylene sheet was inserted up to 150 mm around the inner side of plot levees to prevent seepage loss. The levees were checked and repaired frequently to avoid loss due to cracks or holes developed by snails, crabs and insects. Amounts of each irrigation were measured by V-notch weirs and rainfall by a Tru-check rainguage. Weeding activities were done according to treatments. Three sample areas (1m²) were randomly selected from each plot to count weeds. Weeds were classified into three broad classes and classes’ oven dry weights were recorded. Labor consumption for each treatment was recorded for cost analysis. Plant height, total and effective tiller per hill, panicle length and percent of filled grains were recorded from 10 randomly selected hills in each plot. Crop samples were cut from 50 m²of each plot to determine the grain yield. The data for different growth parameters and yield were analyzed according to randomized complete block design and least significant different (LSD) test technique and Duncan’s multiple range test (DMRT) was followed to determine the best treatments.

Source of Information: Agricultural Water Management 46 (2001) 267-276. Elsevier Science B. V.

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1. Government

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

From this study it could be concluded that continuous ponding (100-150 mm) was not suitable for weed control as well as for higher yield. In comparison, the price of extra water for ponding is higher than the cost of weeding by any other methods. Weed control in transplanted rice cultivation could be done manually where cheap lobar is available. Otherwise herbicides should be used. In some instances, herbicides offer practical, effective and economical means of reducing weed competition and production losses. Therefore, efficient weeding methods other than ponding are a promising approach for saving irrigation water in rice growing areas where water is limited, especially in the dry seasons. Consequently, saving water by appropriate weeding methods will permit increases in the command area of irrigation, which may ultimately help to increases total rice production.

Knowledge Management: Journal