Herbicide molecules for the management of weeds and their effect on grain yield of rice

Four new herbicides were evaluated in transplanted rice at Crop Research Center of G.B. Pant Univeristy of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar for the management of weeds and grain yield. The major weed species in experimental field were Echinochloa colona, E. crusgalli, Ischaemum rugosum, Cyperus iria, C. difformis, Fimbristylis dichotoma, F. miliacea, Scirpus spp., Eclipta alba, Caesulia axillaris, Commelina benghalensis and Ludwigia parviflora. All weed control treatments caused significantly higher grain yield over non-weeded control in both the years. In 2004 the post-emergence application of bensulfuron-methyl 0.05 kg ha-1 produced grain yield 5.16 t ha-1, which was statistically at par with two hand weeding, pre emergence (PE) trisulfuron 0.009 kg ha-1 and bensulfuron-methyl at all the doses. In 2005 the combination of trisulfuron + pretilachlor (0.009 + 0.5 kg ha-1) produced 5.28 t ha-1 grain yield, 228 panicle m-2 and 3.38 g panicle weight which was found at par to weed free, hand weeding twice and all other testing and standard herbicides. All new herbicides decreased the density and dry weight of weeds significantly over non-weeded control.