Development of herbicides for paddy rice in Japan

The history of the development of herbicides for mechanized paddy rice production in Japan can be characterized by a combination of products with several ingredients, by large availability in formulation, and by application methods for labor saving in accordance with natural and social conditions of the country, for instance, around 40% of national land located in hilly and mountainous areas, small size paddy fields consolidated in approximately 0.3 ha on average and so on. As for combination products, one‐shot herbicides that can control both annual and perennial weeds, including grasses, sedges and broadleaved weeds, mainly with sulfonylureas have been a major means of rice production since the 1980s. One‐shot herbicides have been improved by using newly developed chemicals with excellent herbicidal efficacy, such as acetolactate synthase (ALS), 4‐hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (4‐HPPD), protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO) and very‐long‐chain fatty acid elongase (VLCFAE) inhibitors, and by combining ingredients that are effective against sulfonylurea‐resistant (SU‐R) biotypes of lowland weeds. The latest type of one‐shot herbicides can control noxious species such as Eleocharis kuroguwai as well as other ordinal species. Regarding herbicide formulation, “1 kg granule,” “Jumbo,” “Flowable,” “Diffusion granule” and so on have been developed to save farmers the troubles of applying herbicides. As for application methods, “at‐transplanting application,” “at‐irrigation inlet application” and utilization of radio‐controlled helicopters or boats were put into practical use as labor‐saving technology. As a result, farmers were spared the severe hand‐weeding work under blazing heat during the summer season. Japan Association for Advancement of Phyto‐Regulators (JAPR) have promoted and contributed to the development of herbicides through collaboration with agrochemical companies and research organizations since it was founded in 1964. In this paper, I explain the development progress of herbicide using materials on the mode of action, the trend of one‐shot herbicides, the feature of a labor‐saving formulation and the working hours for weed management in rice production.     

Weeds and weed management in rice production in Japan

The area of paddy rice fields in Japan was 1.79 million ha in 1998 almost all of which was planted with young seedlings from nursery boxes by a mechanical rice transplanter. Japanese farmers controlled paddy weeds mainly by chemical herbicides, which were applied around 1.8 times in one growing season of rice by sequential treatment. The cost of herbicides was 35 320 ¥/ha on average, the main of which was ‘one‐shot’ herbicides, while weeding labor for the paddy field, including herbicide application, was 19.0 h/ha, or 29 976 ¥/ha in labor cost, in 1998. Under the Integrated Weed Management (IWM) for sustainable paddy rice production, other technologies for weed management are also recommended to paddy farmers, such as ecological or cultural, mechanical, biological methods and so on.     

Development of lowland weed management and weed succession in Japan

Since the introduction of rice production in Japan, lowland areas have been managed for rice production with the purpose of better rice growth, as well as lesser weed infestation. Rice is cropped every year in lowland fields by repeated cultivation of a single crop, with high yields and without soil sickness usually being observed in upland fields. This is probably because the irrigation water supplies various nutrients for healthy rice growth and the drainage washes out and removes harmful factors. However, until recently, the wet or flooded conditions of lowland fields in the Asian monsoon region never have allowed humans to cultivate useful summer crops, except rice or some aquatic plants. Therefore, the management of lowland areas in the Asian monsoon region has been significantly different from European field management, where crop rotation has been the traditional standard practice. Paddy weeds are aquatic plants or hygrophytes that have adapted to lowland fields. Traditionally, tillage and puddling were practiced seasonally in lowland fields on a regular schedule every year. Rice cultivation technology was developed and supported by regional irrigation systems that created stable environments for typical paddy weeds to complete their life cycle. After the introduction of chemical weed control, rice fields became very severe habitats for these paddy weeds, where they could not grow and reproduce without strategies for survival under herbicide exposure. Even so, many of the traditional paddy weeds survived because of their accumulated or uneradicated seed banks, although several aquatic plants were listed as endangered or threatened species. The important weed species changed, sometimes rapidly and sometimes slowly, depending both on their reproductive system and their biological response towards field management and weed control systems. Very recently, the level of perennial weeds, herbicide‐resistant weeds, and weedy rice has increased in paddy fields that are highly dependent on herbicide use. In addition, several hygrophyte species have invaded paddy fields. In order to address these issues, the improvement and application of integrated weed management methods are expected to be critical.     

Water and sediment dynamics of penoxsulam and molinate in paddy fields: field and lysimeter studies

BACKGROUND: In Chile, rice is cultivated under water‐seeded and continuously flooded conditions. Because herbicide dynamics in paddy fields and non‐flooded fields is different, 3 year experiments were performed to study the dissipation of molinate and penoxsulam in water and sediment. RESULTS: In field experiments, both herbicides dissipated by 45–55% from the initial applied amounts during the first 6 h after application in all crop seasons; in lysimeter experiments, dissipation amounts were approximately 10% for penoxsulam and 16% for molinate. Penoxsulam field water DT₅₀ values varied from 1.28 to 1.96 days during the three study seasons, and DT₉₀ values from 4.07 to 6.22 days. Molinate field water DT₅₀ values varied from 0.89 to 1.73 days, and DT₉₀ values from 2.82 to 5.48 days. Sediment residues were determined 2 days after herbicide application into the paddy water, and maximum concentrations were found 4–8 days after application. In sediment, DT₅₀ values varied from 20.20 to 27.66 days for penoxsulam and from 15.02 to 29.83 days for molinate. CONCLUSIONS: Results showed that penoxsulam and molinate losses under paddy conditions are dissipated rapidly from the water and then dissipate slowly from the sediment. Penoxsulam and molinate field water dissipation was facilitated by paddy water motion created by the wind. Sediment adsorption and degradation are considered to have a secondary effect on the dissipation of both herbicides in paddy fields. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

基于登记用量分析我国四大主粮作物田除草剂的登记现状

为除草剂合理减施提供数据参考，本研究于2019年7月3日自中国农药信息网查询我国四大主粮作物——小麦、水稻、玉米和马铃薯登记的除草剂，并对这4种作物田登记除草剂单剂（含原药）及混剂的条目数量进行整体分析，并对所有单剂有效成分以及不同剂型的登记条目数量进行分析，筛选出高用量单剂有效成分，分别从剂型和防治对象上进行用量分析，再将用量最高的4种有效成分、3种作物和3种防治对象进行组合，对已登记的组合进行用量分析。结果显示：有效成分用量最大值、均值和范围排序均依次为水稻田、小麦田、玉米田和马铃薯田，并选出15种高用量单剂有效成分，其中2甲4氯钠、2，4-滴钠盐、苯磺隆、丙草胺、丁草胺、2，4-滴二甲胺盐和2甲4氯二甲胺盐等存在用量差异大、异常高值点多的问题；登记除草剂单剂有效成分用量最高的剂型为可溶粉剂，用量最高的防治对象为阔叶杂草和莎草科杂草；2甲4氯钠-水稻-阔叶杂草和2甲4氯钠-水稻-莎草科杂草组合用量差异大且离群高值点多，究其原因可能与剂型、厂家有关。为减少除草剂用量，建议在最低有效剂量研究基础上，选择有效成分用量较低的除草剂品种。     

Prevalence of herbicide‐resistant weed species in Malaysian rice fields: A review

The management of weeds in Malaysian rice fields is very much herbicide‐based. The heavy reliance on herbicide for weed control by many rice‐growers arguably eventually has led to the development and evolution of herbicide‐resistant biotypes in Malaysian rice fields over the years. The continuous use of synthetic auxin (phenoxy group) herbicides and acetohydroxyacid synthase‐inhibiting herbicides to control rice weeds was consequential in leading to the emergence and prevalence of resistant weed biotypes. This review discusses the history and confirmed cases and incidence of herbicide‐resistant weeds in Malaysian rice fields. It also reviews the Clearfield Production System and its impact on the evolution of herbicide resistance among rice weed species and biotypes. This review also emphasizes the strategies and management options for herbicide‐resistant rice field weeds within the framework of herbicide‐based integrated weed management. These include the use of optimum tillage practices, certified clean seeds, increased crop competition through high seeding rates, crop rotation, the application of multiple modes of action of herbicides in annual rotations, tank mixtures and sequential applications to enable a broad spectrum of weed control, increase the selective control of noxious weed species in a field and help to delay the resistance evolution by reducing the selection pressure that is forced on those weed populations by a specific herbicidal mode of action.     

五氟磺草胺在稻田中的消解动态及残留特性

建立了超高效液相色谱-质谱联用检测五氟磺草胺在水稻植株、稻田土壤、田水和糙米中残留的分析方法,结合田间试验研究了五氟磺草胺在稻田环境中的消解及残留特性,并对稻米中五氟磺草胺残留的膳食暴露进行了初步评估。结果表明:在0.005~0.5 mg/L范围内,五氟磺草胺的质量浓度与对应的峰面积间呈良好线性关系,检出限（LOD）为0.001~0.002 mg/kg,定量限（LOQ）为0.003~0.005 mg/kg。在0.005~0.5 mg/kg添加水平下,五氟磺草胺在水稻植株、稻田土壤、田水和糙米中的平均回收率在89%~106%之间,相对标准偏差在2.8%~8.5%之间。浙江、福建和黑龙江2年3地的田间试验表明:0.025%五氟磺草胺颗粒剂在水稻植株、稻田土壤和田水中的消解半衰期分别为1.5~3.3,3.0~4.7和1.6-3.0 d,说明该药剂在稻田环境中消解速率较快。以五氟磺草胺有效成分含量37.5和56.3 g/hm2分别施药1次,于水稻成熟期采样检测,发现其在糙米中的残留量低于0.005 mg/kg,表明其膳食摄入风险很低,该研究结果可为五氟磺草胺风险评估提供一定参考。     

Application of bispyribac‐sodium provides effective weed control in direct‐planted rice on a sandy loam soil

An increasing water crisis, as well as the unavailability and high cost of labor, in Pakistan has forced rice‐growers to plant rice directly into the field. However, severe weed infestation causes disastrous effects on the productivity of this rice system. In this study, three herbicides (pendimethalin, penoxsulam and bispyribac‐sodium) were evaluated for weed control in direct‐planted rice on a sandy loam soil. Weedy check and weed‐free plots were established for comparison. Weed infestation decreased the rice yield by 75.2%. However, the application of herbicides suppressed the weed infestation, with a simultaneous increase in the rice yield. The postemergence application of bispyribac‐sodium was the most effective herbicide in reducing the total weed density and dry weight over the weedy check, followed by penoxsulam and pendimethalin, respectively. Bispyribac‐sodium increased the number of productive tillers, 1000‐grain weight, number of grains per panicle and grain yield over the control, as well as improved the water productivity and economic returns of direct‐planted rice. The weeds' proliferation increased the number of unproductive tillers and decreased the plant height. In conclusion, the postemergence application of bispyribac‐sodium can be used effectively to control weeds, increase water productivity and improve the economic returns and yield of direct‐planted rice on a sandy loam soil in Pakistan.     

Rice paddy field herbicides and their effects on the environment and ecosystems

Paddy herbicides contribute to the reduction of weeding labor, however, there are concerns about their effects on the environment and ecosystems. The environmental burden of applied herbicides is heaviest in water systems such as irrigation channels and rivers. Herbicides are generally detected in rivers in concentrations in levels of ng/L for only 2 to 3 months after use. It is to be regretted that herbicides have been implicated in accidents involving fish, the impeded propagation of algae and other non‐target organisms. Therefore, it is necessary to assess the ecological risk, and the Environment Agency in Japan compiled an interim report on how pesticides' ecological effects should be assessed. Pesticides are separately examined for their toxicity (hazard assessment) and exposure (exposure analysis). However, to the environment and ecosystems there are many problems in assessing the ecological risk of pesticides, such as selection of geographic locations, methodology of assessing the impacts on ecosystems and monitoring the effect of pesticides. New herbicides are expected to have high selectivity and low toxicity. Decreasing herbicide toxicity requires high selectivity to distinguish target weeds from crops and non‐target organisms. New groups of compounds will be developed based on a biorational approach. Moreover, it is necessary to develop an environmentally low‐impact application method such as the use of granular types and sustained‐release formulation among others. It is important that integrated methods be used to control paddy weeds by combining ecological/agronomical, mechanical and biological control methods, instead of relying solely on chemical herbicides.     

Effect of allelopathic rice varieties combined with cultural management options on paddy field weeds

BACKGROUND: A number of techniques, including cultural management, allelopathy and bioherbicide, have been considered as alternatives for synthetic herbicides, but successful weed control will require the careful integration of these multiple techniques. This study was conducted to assess the use of allelopathic rice varieties in combination with cultural management options on paddy weeds, in order to develop an allelopathy-based technique to reduce herbicide use in paddies. RESULTS: The weed-suppressive effects of the rice varieties tested varied highly with allelopathic trait, planting pattern and cultural management including planting density, flooding depth and duration and supply of nitrogen. Allelopathic rice varieties PI312777 and Huagan-1 demonstrated much stronger weed suppression than the non-allelopathic variety Huajianxian under the same planting pattern and cultural management. Their weed-suppressive effect was increased with cultural management options. In particular, if integrated cultural management options of allelopathic rice varieties included a low-dose (bensulfuron-methyl, 25 g AI ha(-1), a third of the recommended dose) herbicide application, the emergence and growth of most weeds found in paddy fields was completely controlled. No grain yield reduction for allelopathic varieties occurred under integrated cultural management options, whereas with the non-allelopathic variety a reduction of up to 45-60% was measurable even with the low-dose herbicide application. CONCLUSION: The allelopathic potential of rice varieties will likely have a great impact on paddy weed control if integrated with cultural management options and application of low doses of herbicides. Therefore, it is feasible to reduce herbicide input in paddies if allelopathic rice is grown under integrated cultural management practices.     

Pesticide exposure assessment in rice paddies in Europe: a comparative study of existing mathematical models

A comparative test was undertaken in order to identify the potential of existing mathematical models, including the rice water quality (RICEWQ) 1.6.4v model, the pesticide concentration in paddy field (PCPF-1) model and the surface water and groundwater (SWAGW) model, for calculating pesticide dissipation and exposure in rice paddies in Europe. Previous versions of RICEWQ and PCPF-1 models had been validated under European and Japanese conditions respectively, unlike the SWAGW model which was only recently developed as a tier-2 modelling tool. Two datasets, derived from field dissipation studies undertaken in northern Italy with the herbicides cinosulfuron and pretilachlor, were used for the modelling exercise. All models were parameterized according to field experimentations, as far as possible, considering their individual deficiencies. Models were not calibrated against field data in order to remove bias in the comparison of the results. RICEWQ 1.6.4v provided the highest agreement between measured and predicted pesticide concentrations in both paddy water and paddy soil, with modelling efficiency (EF) values ranging from 0.78 to 0.93. PCPF-1 simulated well the dissipation of herbicides in paddy water, but significantly underestimated the concentrations of pretilachlor, a chemical with high affinity for soil sorption, in paddy soil. SWAGW simulated relatively well the dissipation of both herbicides in paddy water, and especially pretilachlor, but failed to predict closely the pesticide dissipation in paddy soil. Both RICEWQ and SWAGW provided low groundwater (GW) predicted environmental concentrations (PECs), suggesting a low risk of GW contamination for the two herbicides. Overall, this modelling exercise suggested that RICEWQ 1.6.4v is currently the most reliable model for higher-tier exposure assessment in rice paddies in Europe. PCPF-1 and SWAGW showed promising results, but further adjustments are required before these models can be considered as strong candidates for inclusion in the higher-tier pesticide regulatory scheme.     

不同除草剂对稻田杂草群落演替的影响

为了明确除草剂对稻田杂草群落演替的影响,2001～2004年,连续4年施用7种稻田除草剂控制移栽稻田杂草,每年调查稻田杂草的种类、密度和鲜重,分析稻田杂草种群的变化.结果表明：连续使用同一除草剂对稻田杂草群落演替影响显著,靶标杂草的优势度值与药剂使用年限存在显著的线性或非线性关系：Y=a＋bx或Y=ax^2＋bx＋c;非靶标杂草优势度值与药剂使用年限呈极显著正相关线性关系.不同药剂处理的杂草群落有一定的差异,连续使用二元复配除草剂,杂草群落的均匀度和多样性指数分别为0.40～0.43和1.57～1.84,明显低于单剂处理和对照区,田间主要杂草是陌上菜、水苋、千金子和水莎草,其杂草的鲜重显著低于其它处理.     

我国施药机械与施药技术现状及对策

我国农作物病虫草鼠每年需要化学防治面积达3亿公顷次以上,使用农药100万吨(制剂)左右,喷洒这些农药最主要和最基本手段还是靠施药机械,而目前广大农民广泛使用的主要是中小型施药机械,质量普遍不高,施药技术也比较落后,农药浪费和污染严重。本文系统地介绍了目前施药机械与施药技术的现状与问题,并从实际出发,提出了新农村需要新的喷雾器这一命题,同时提出了推进施药机械与施药技术工作的对策与建议。     

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service research in application technology for pest management

A research summary is presented that emphasizes ARS achievements in application technology over the past 2-3 years. Research focused on the improvement of agricultural pesticide application is important from the standpoint of crop protection as well as environmental safety. Application technology research is being actively pursued within the ARS, with a primary focus on application system development, drift management, efficacy enhancement and remote sensing. Research on application systems has included sensor-controlled hooded sprayers, new approaches to direct chemical injection, and aerial electrostatic sprayers. For aerial application, great improvements in on-board flow controllers permit accurate field application of chemicals. Aircraft parameters such as boom position and spray release height are being altered to determine their effect on drift. Other drift management research has focused on testing of low-drift nozzles, evaluation of pulsed spray technologies and evaluation of drift control adjuvants. Research on the use of air curtain sprayers in orchards, air-assist sprayers for row crops and vegetables, and air deflectors on aircraft has documented improvements in application efficacy. Research has shown that the fate of applied chemicals is influenced by soil properties, and this has implications for herbicide efficacy and dissipation in the environment. Remote sensing systems are being used to target areas in the field where pests are present so that spray can be directed to only those areas. Soil and crop conditions influence propensity for weeds and insects to proliferate in any given field area. Research has indicated distinct field patterns favorable for weed growth and insect concentration, which can provide further assistance for targeted spraying.     

A Portable Sprayer for Treating Experimental Plots

Abstract

The construction and operation of a portable light-weight spray boom and accompanying backpack are described. The sprayer can be used to apply pesticides accurately to experimental plots 3 or 4 m wide and is operated by two people. For lightness, both the main framework of the boom, to which the nozzles are attached, and the supporting struts are constructed of aluminium. The pesticide spray is supplied to the boom from a backpack consisting of a stainless steel tank (either 6 or 12 l capacity) and a high pressure gas cylinder. This sprayer has been found to be suitable for application of pesticides to plots larger than those normally treated with most small plot sprayers, but smaller than those requiring vehicle-mounted machines. An appendix lists the suppliers of the parts used and their cost.     

3种除草剂对水稻旱直播阔叶杂草防效及安全性研究

为明确不同除草剂茎叶处理对旱直播水稻田旱生阔叶杂草防除及安全性的影响,采用随机区组试验设计,选用30% 2,4-滴丁酸钠盐AS、84%氯酯磺草胺WG、480 g/L灭草松AS 3种除草剂在水稻4叶期、5叶期施用,施药后每间隔7 d测定杂草株防效、鲜重防效和水稻目测药害,同步测定水稻生长指标和抗逆酶活性。结果表明:30% 2,4-滴丁酸钠盐AS 900.0 g/hm2在水稻4叶期的杂草防效最佳,第28天杂草株防效及鲜重防效仍可达93.55%和96.42%,且对大龄鸭跖草防效显著,施药后水稻生长与人工除草相比无显著差异。叶片SOD、POD活性和MDA含量均先升后降,至施药后28 d恢复正常。30% 2,4-滴丁酸钠盐AS 900.0 g/hm2可高效防除阔叶杂草,该药剂在水稻4叶期和5叶期施用对旱直播水稻安全。     

Improved physical control of glyphosate‐resistant Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) on rice paddy levees in Japan

Italian ryegrass ( Lolium multiflorum Lam.) is a non‐native annual winter grass that has seriously infested rice paddy levees and wheat fields in Japan. Recently, glyphosate‐resistant Italian ryegrass was found on paddy levees in central Japan, thereby making control of the grass by using glyphosate less effective. In this study, physical control methods were tested that combined the timing and frequency of mowing in order to more effectively control glyphosate‐resistant Italian ryegrass on rice paddy levees. A 3 year field experiment was conducted from 2012 to 2014 in a western region of Shizuoka Prefecture, where glyphosate‐resistant Italian ryegrass has become dominant. Five treatments were tested: (i) mowing once before the flowering of the grass (i.e. conventional mowing measure); (ii) mowing once during flowering; (iii) mowing twice during flowering; (iv) glyphosate application before flowering (i.e. one of the conventional mowing measures); and (v) no treatment. The above‐ground biomass, seed production, soil seed bank and seedling occurrence of Italian ryegrass were measured to determine the effectiveness of these treatments. Mowing during the flowering period resulted in reduced above‐ground biomass, seed production and soil seed bank when compared with the other treatments. Additionally, mowing twice during the flowering period resulted in a lower seedling density than mowing once. The results suggest that, in this region, physical control by mowing during the flowering period would be more effective than conventional measures for controlling glyphosate‐resistant Italian ryegrass.     

Breeding of commercially acceptable allelopathic rice cultivars in China

BACKGROUND: One promising area of paddy weed control is the potential for exploiting the weed‐suppressing ability of rice. This study was conducted to develop commercially acceptable allelopathic rice cultivars using crosses between allelopathic rice variety PI312777 and commercial Chinese cultivars (N2S, N9S, Huahui354, Peiai64S and Tehuazhan35), and to assess their weed suppression and grain yield in paddy fields in relation to their parents. RESULTS: There was a positive dominance in the crosses Huahui354 × PI312777 and N2S × PI312777 but recessive or negative dominance in N9S × PI312777, Peiai64S × PI312777 and Tehuazhan35 × PI312777. Huahui354 × PI312777 and N2S × PI312777 showed stronger weed suppression than their parents and other crosses. Finally, an F₈ line with an appearance close to Huahui354 and a magnitude of weed suppression close to PI312777 was obtained from Huahui354 × PI312777. This line, named Huagan‐3, was released as a first commercially acceptable allelopathic rice cultivar in China. The grain yield and quality of Huagan‐3 met the commercial standard of the local rice industry. Huagan‐3 greatly suppressed paddy weeds, although suppression was influenced by year‐to‐year variation and plant density. There was no certain yield reduction in Huagan‐3 even under a slight infestation of barnyard grass in paddy fields. CONCLUSION: The successful breeding of Huagan‐3 with high yield and strong weed suppression may be incorporated into present rice production systems to minimise the amount of herbicide used. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

苗期水分管理对水稻分蘖及除草剂控草效应的影响

稻田除草剂大量及高频使用对农作物安全、土壤及水体环境构成了严重威胁,使得除草剂减量使用刻不容缓。水稻机插田药后长时间保水可显著抑制杂草,以此可减少除草剂用量,但长时间保水会导致水稻发育受限。盆栽试验表明,无论是否喷施除草剂30%苄嘧·丙草胺乳油,杂草发生随保水时长增加而减少,且喷施除草剂对杂草防除具显著效果。田间试验表明,稻田施用30%苄嘧·丙草胺乳油100 mL/667m~2后,药后保水7 d时的水稻分蘖及抑草的综合效应达到最佳。     

Characterization of sulfonylurea-resistant Schoenoplectus juncoides having a target-site Asp376Glu mutation in the acetolactate synthase

Schoenoplectus juncoides, a noxious weed for paddy rice, is known to become resistant to sulfonylurea (SU) herbicides by a target-site mutation in either of the two acetolactate synthase (ALS) genes (ALS1 and ALS2). SU-resistant S. juncoides plants having an Asp₃₇₆Glu mutation in ALS2 were found from a paddy rice field in Japan, but their resistance profile has not been quantitatively investigated. In this study, dose–response of the SU-resistant accession was compared with that of a SU-susceptible accession at in vivo whole-plant level as well as at in vitro enzymatic level.