Green manuring, non-chemical methods, stale seedbed, weed management, wet seeded rice

Experiments to compare different seedbed techniques and non-chemical methods in wet seeded rice were conducted during 2005-06 and 2006-07.  The trials were laid out in a split plot design with three main plots, five sub-plots and three replications.  Adopting stale seedbed technique either for 7 or 14 days significantly reduced the population of grass weeds. It gave successful control of broadleaf weeds too. Among the weed management treatments, pre-emergence spraying of (Sofit) pretilachlor+safener and concurrent growing of sesbania gave significant reduction in the population and dry weight of weeds.  Pretilachlor spray exhibited the greatest influence on broadleaf weeds.  Stale seedbed preparation significantly improved grain and straw yields of wet seeded rice compared to normal seedbed.  An increase in stale seedbed period contributed to corresponding increase in yields as evident by higher grain and straw yields in plots with stale seedbed for 14 days.  Among the weed control treatments tried, pretilachlor+safener sprayed and hand weeded plots gave higher yields.