Weedy rice A serious threat for sustaining rice farming in India

Abstract

Integrated crop management programs with varietal aspects, such as crop plant density, crop row spacing, cultivars with good initial vigour, and purple base need to be exploited as a component of integrated weed management in weedy rice control. With current crop management practices, including direct seeding of rice, weedy rice infestations are likely to increase and will threaten sustainability of production systems in the country. Because of their high competitive ability, these weeds can remarkably affect rice yields. Multiple approaches need to be integrated to reduce weedy rice infestations in fields as farmers usually fail to reduce weedy rice populations using single method of control. Further research is therefore urgently needed to determine the impact of different tillage systems, water management, and herbicide practices on weedy rice growth and control.