Sowing time and weed management to enhance productivity of direct-seeded aromatic rice

Field experiments were conducted during Kharif 2012 and 2013 sandy clay loam soil to study the effect of times of planting and weed management in direct-seeded aromatic rice in foot hills J&K Himalayas. Results revealed that direct-seeded basmati rice sown on 15th June and 10th July recorded non-significant results with respect to grain and straw yield. Among herbicidal weed management, post-emergence application of bispyribac at 30 g/ha recorded significantly higher grain and straw yield which was at par with post-emergence application of cyhalofop-butyl + 2, 4-D 90 g/ha + 500 g/ha and anilophos + ethoxysulfuron at 375 g/ha + 15 g/ha with B:C ratio of 2.98 and 3.95 during Kharif 2012 and 2013, respectivly. It was owing to higher number of panicles/m2, grains/panicle and 1000-grain weight along with lowest weed density, weed dry matter, higher weed control efficiency and lowest weed index.