Effect of Plant Population and Weed Manage~qent Practices on the Weed and Productivity of Basmati Rice (Oryza Sativa L.) Under Transplanted Conditions

Abstract

Thesis title: "Effect of plant population and weed management practices on the weed and productivity of basmati rice (Otyza stiva L.) under transplanted conditions". A field experiment was carried out during kharif seasons of 2009 and 2010 at crop Research Centre of SVPUA&T, Meerut comprising 41evels of plant population viz., 20, 30, 40 and 50 hills m·2 as main plot factor and 5 weed management practices (8utachlor@ 1.0 Kg ha·1, 8utachlor@ 1.0 Kg ha"1 fb one hand weeding, 8utachlor @ 1.0 Kg ha·1 fb Almix@4g ha·t, two hand weedings and weedy check) in a split plot design with three replications. The crop was transplanted on July 14 during 2009 and July 15 during 2010 with recommended production packages for basmati rice production except for the treatments. Soil of experimental field was sandy loam in texture, low in organic carbon and available nitrogen, high in available phosphorus and medium in available potassium having near to neutral reaction. Experimental result revealed that plant population of 50 hills m·2 proved superior over 20 hills m·2 in respect of weed density, weed dry weight, No. of tillers m·2 , yield attributes, grain, straw and biological yields. The maximum grain yield (29.00 and 31 .00 q ha-1 ) and straw yield (51.30 and 52.50 q ha-1 ) were recorded with 50 hills m·2 · followed by 40 hills m·2 during 2009 and 2010, respectively. In respect to nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium removal reserve trend was observed i.e. the highest in 20 hills m·2 followed by 30, 40 and 50 hills m·2 • The highest 8: C ratio (1 .23 and 1.69) was recorded with 50 hills m·2 , while the lowest B: C ration (0.77 and 1.17) was recorded with 20 hills m·2 during 2009 and 2010, respectively. As far as weed management practices is concern, both chemical and mechanical methods of weed control were found superior over weedy check. The lowest weed density, dry weight and highest weed control efficiency, maximum length of panicle"1 ,number of grain panicle·1and1000-grain weight and grain yield of 30.40 and 32.60 q ha·1 were recorded with two hand weedings which was at par with 8utachlor@ 1.0 Kg ha·1 fb one hand weeding over rest of the weed management practices. However,highest 8: C ratio (1 .16 and 1.56) was found with Butachlor@ 1.0 Kg ha·1 fb one hand weeding ,while the lowest 8: C ration (0.60 and 0.89) was recorded with weedy check during 2009 and 2010, res1ely.