Influence of Nitrogen and Weed Management Practices on Growth and Yield of Direct Seeded Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

A field experiment was conducted during rainy (kharif) season of 2015 and 2016 to study the effect of nitrogen and weed management in direct seeded rice (Oryza sativa L.) Nitrogen management significantly reduced the population of grasses, sedges and broad leaved weeds and increased weed control efficiency and increased growth attributes and yield of crop. The results indicated that the minimum population of grasses, sedges and broad leaved weeds, weed dry weight and maximum weed control efficiency and maximum crop growth attributes and yield was recorded with the application of ¼ N basal + ¼ N at active tillering stage + ¼ N at panicle initiation stage + ¼ N at heading stage. Application of ½ N basal + ¼ N at active tillering stage + ¼ N at panicle initiation stage recorded higher population of grasses, sedges and broad leaved weeds and dry weight during both the years. The various weed management treatments significantly decreased the population and dry weight of weed and increased the weed control efficiency, crop growth characters and yield when compared with the weedy check. Two hand weedings at 20 and 40 DAS and bispyribac at 25 g a.i. ha-1 + azimsulfuron at 17.5 g a.i. ha-1 + NIS (0.25 %) at 15-20 DAS recorded minimum weed population and dry weight of weed and increased the weed control efficiency, crop growth characters and yield of the crop when compared to other treatments.