Direct seeded rice, weed management, azimsulfuron, broadleaf weeds, sedges

Field experiments were conducted at Karnal (Haryana) and Pusa (Bihar) during kharif 2006 to assess efficacy of azimsulfuron alone and in combination with ready mix of metsulfuron+chlorimuron (almix)  applied to the dry direct seeded rice (DSR) crop. Azimsulfuron at 25-30 g/ha applied 25 days after sowing controlled effectively broadleaf weeds and sedges especially Cyperus rotundus in DSR but failed to control grasses.Tank mixing of almix did not improve efficacy of azimsulfuron for the control of grasses, sedges or broadleaf weeds across the locations. Azimsulfuron alone or tank mixed with almix was not effective against grasses. On an average, uncontrolled weeds reduced the grain and straw yield of rice by 42 and 46%, respectively. Azimsulfuron applied alone or in tank mixed with almix and pre-emergence application of pendimethalin followed by almix had no toxicity in rice cultivar HBC-119 but phytotoxicity was observed in rice cultivar Rajshree at Pusa with higher doses of azimsulfuron.