IMPACT OF CROP ESTABLISHMENT METHODS AND WEED CONTROL ON WEEDS, INSECT-PEST AND DISEASE INFESTATION IN RICE IN NORTH-WESTERN INDO-GANGETIC PLAINS

S. KAUR¹*, S. SINGH^2
1Department of Agronomy, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana - 141 004, Punjab, India.
²Department of Agronomy, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana - 141 004, Punjab, India.
* Corresponding Author : simer@pau.edu

Received : 29-05-2015     Accepted : 09-07-2015     Published : 04-08-2015
Volume : 7     Issue : 4       Pages : 487 - 491
Int J Agr Sci 7.4 (2015):487-491

Keywords : Direct seeded rice, Disease, Grain yield, Insect-pest, Transplanted rice, Weeds
Academic Editor : Tehri Kanika, Seni Atanu
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : The authors wish to acknowledge technical support given by Dr Chander Mohan, Additional Director of Communication, PAU, Ludhiana and Dr. KS Suri, Entomologist for conducting this research.

Direct-seeded rice (DSR) is an emerging production system in Asia in the face of looming water scarcity, labor scarcity and the energy crisis. Field experiment was conducted at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana during kharif 2009 and 2010 to study the effect of establishment methods and weed control treatments on weeds, insect-pest attack, disease infestation and rice productivity. The experiment was laid out in Split Plot Design keeping five establishment methods in main plots namely direct seeding with zero till drill, modified furrow drill, conventional seed cum fertilizer drill, wet-seeding and manual transplanting and four weed control treatments in sub-plots comprising of pre-emergence application of pendimethalin 0.75 kg/ha, sequential application of pendimethalin 0.75 kg/ha and bispyribac sodium 0.025 kg/ha or azimsulfuron 0.02 kg/ha along with one weed free treatment. Weed biomass, disease incidence and grain yield did not vary significantly among different establishment methods. The maximum grain yield was recorded in weed free treatment which was statistically at par (P= 0.05) with sequential use of pendimethalin 0.75 kg/ha with bispyribac 0.025 kg or azimsulfuron 0.02 kg/ha. Post-emergence application of bispyribac 0.025 kg/ha significantly reduced disease incidence and was at par with weed free. The influence of establishment methods and weed control treatments on stem borer and leaf folder attack was not significant (P= 0.05). Thus, rice can be direct seeded with zero till drill, modified furrow drill and conventional drill with no significant effect on insect-pest complex. Weeds influenced sheath blight incidence; sequential spray of pendimethalin 0.75 kg/ha and bispyribac 0.025 kg or azimsulfuron 0.02 kg/ha, depending upon weed flora not only controlled weeds but also helped in managing the sheath blight disease of rice.