Weed problems and their management in rice fields of Malaysia: An overview

The available literature on weed problems and weed control in rice fields in Malaysia is reviewed and suggestions for future research are included. The problem of weed competition with rice is of great economic importance in the country because it causes a 10–35% reduction in grain yield. About US$4.10 million is spent annually on herbicides for rice alone, and this amounts to approximately 7% of the total expenditure on herbicides. The shift in methods of rice culture from transplanting to direct seeding has magnified the weed problem. The problem of weedy rice is particularly acute in the direct-seeding rice areas. Although a number of sulfonylurea herbicides (e.g. cinosulfuron, metsulfuron, bensulfuron and pyrazosulfuron) have been found to be suitable alternatives to the old herbicide 2,4-D, an integrated weed management program must be developed in order to reduce the problem of herbicide resistance in weeds. Weed control methods that are more friendly to the environment and affordable to farmers must be sought. Weed-competitive and allelopathic rice varieties must be produced. The problem of weeds in rice calls for systematic studies on biotechnological methods of control of weedy rice. Detailed studies on the biology and ecology of notorious rice weeds, particularly Oryza sativa L. (weedy rice), Echinochloa spp., Leptochloa chinensis (L.) Nees, Fimbristylis miliacea (L.) Vahl. and Limnocharis flava (L.) Buch. need to be done in order to formulate successful weed control measures.     

Problems with No-till Crops

Abstract

Seven new granular herbicides were evaluated in Taiwan for the control of weeds in broadcast flooded rice. In general, herbicides applied early (6 days after seeding) gave better weed control but caused more crop damage than when applied late (12 days after seeding). Benthiocarb applied at 6 days after seeding, when most weeds were at the one to two leaf stage, was highly selective in controlling broad-leaved weeds and sedges with no sustained injury to rice. Butachlor failed to control broad-leaved weeds at the two to three leaf stage. The initial toxicities of C-288 (dimethatryn plus piperophos, 1:4) piperophos (C-19490), and CRD 71.6388 were too severe to warrant their use in direct-seeded flooded rice in Taiwan. Among the herbicides tested, thiochlormethyl and molinate and thiochlormethyl when applied late, were the most selective. When applied 12 days after seeding or at the three to four leaf stage of weeds, both treatments provided excellent control of weeds without causing any crop injury.     

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.     

我国农田杂草治理技术的发展

我国稻、麦、玉米、大豆及棉花等主要农作物农田杂草有580种,属于危害重而又难于防除的有17种,受杂草危害较重的农田有3 580万hm²,年平均受草害减产12.3％～16.5％(加权平均)。自1980年以来,全国化学除草面积以年增200万hm²的速度扩大,农田化学除草面积从20世纪70年代早期不到100万hm²扩大到近年来6 000万hm²。本文概述了我国农田主要作物杂草的发生危害、化学除草剂应用现状及其综合防治进展,并提出今后杂草防除的设想与建议。     

农艺措施和除草剂用量对化感稻产量及杂草生物量的影响

为实现水稻生产减施除草剂的目标,将化感材料与农艺措施相结合取得对稻田杂草有效控制的效果,田间采用再裂区试验法研究了化感稻3号和N两优201两个水稻化感材料和非化感材料五山丝苗在不同水分管理、移栽密度和除草剂不同用量下,对水稻产量和田间杂草生物量的影响。结果表明:无论早季稻田还是晚季稻田,施用常规除草剂量的小区杂草生物量均为0,施用常规剂量50%除草剂且仅在孕穗期晒田的小区和常规密度小区有少量杂草发生。不施除草剂的水稻材料小区杂草生物量依次为化感稻3号N两优201五山丝苗。移栽后75 d,不施除草剂的小区相同水稻材料孕穗期不晒田比晒田处理、高密度比常规密度处理的杂草生物量小。早季稻田不晒田和高密度提高了水稻的产量,晚季稻田则相反。化感材料化感稻3号和N两优201在田间的抑草效果较五山丝苗要好。在水稻生产中,水稻化感材料结合农艺措施,可以实现水稻不减产,田间杂草得到有效控制,除草剂量减50%的目标。     

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.     

A risk-qualified approach to calculate locally varying herbicide application rates

Weed competition can decrease crop yield and profit. Herbicides are applied to reduce weed populations, minimize crop loss and maximize profit. Traditional practice is to apply herbicides at a uniform rate over an entire field. Complete knowledge of the weed distribution and appropriate instrumentation on the spraying equipment would allow the farm manager to apply the 'correct' locally varying herbicide application rate. The locally variable rate would be greater in areas of high weed density and less where there are few weeds. A locally varying treatment would have both economic and environmental advantages. A major challenge facing farm managers is the unavoidable uncertainty in the spatial distribution of weeds in any particular field. This uncertainty in weed distribution influences the optimal locally varying herbicide rate. A mathematical model is presented to calculate the optimal herbicide application rate using geostatistical models of uncertainty in weed density combined with principles from decision making. Weed data from a 34-ha field near Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, illustrate the application of these tools. Weed control was achieved with a significant reduction in total herbicide use.     

Development of chemical weed control and integrated weed management in China

More than 200 species of weeds are infesting main crop fields in China, among which approximately 30 species are major weeds causing great crop yield losses. About 35.8 million hectares of crop fields are heavily infested by weeds and the annual reduction of crop yields is 12.3–16.5% (weighted average). Along with rural economic development, approximately 50% of the main crop fields undergo herbicide application. Chemical weed control has changed cultural practices to save weeding labor in rice, wheat, maize, soybeans and cotton. At the same time, continuous use of the same herbicides has caused weed shift problems and weed resistance to herbicides. Consequently, integrated weed management in main crops is being developed.     

Seventh British Insecticide and Fungicide Conference,Brighton, November 1973

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the wet seasons of 1980 and 1981 to find out the relative influence of weed control and applied nitrogen on performance of transplanted rice and nutrients uptake by rice and weeds. Propanil and thiobencarb, each at 2.0 kg a.i/ha, were found comparable to two hand weedings in increasing grain yield of rice and minimizing dry matter of weeds. The mean grain yield was increased by 28.06% while dry matter of weeds reduced by 84.04% over unweeded control. Application of nitrogen from 0 to 75 kg N/ha increased grain yield to the tune of 1631 kg/ha. Remarkable increase in grain yield was noticed when weed control treatments were associated with application of nitrogen. Higher uptake of N, P and K by crop and lower removal of same nutrients by weeds were observed in herbicides and hand weedings than unweeded control. N, P and K in the order of 11.49, 1.71 and 12.40 kg/ha respectively could be saved through weed control in transplanted rice.     

上海郊区农田杂草危害调查及其防除策略

根据农田杂草的相对覆盖度、高度、多度制订了5级目测草害调查方法,三年中调查了不同类型田5500块,调查结果表明,稗、异型莎草在稻田出现频率达100％和93％,危害面积达35.2％和23.2％;看麦娘、牛繁缕、春蓼在麦田出现频率为74.0％、86.0％、56.5％,危害面积达29.16％、32.84％、18.72％;千金子、马唐在棉田出现频率为99.6％、94.0％,危害面积达58.8％、36.4％;危害的种类、程度因土壤pH、轮作制度、土质、防除水平不同而异。在防除工作中要抓住主要作物和重点草害,注重农业防除,协调必要的化学除草。     

Weed flora shifts and specialisation in winter oilseed rape in France

Temporally repeated data sets can provide useful information about the management practices governing changes in the arable weed flora. This study aimed (i) to investigate changes in the most common weed species in winter oilseed rape crops in France between the 1970s and the 2000s and (ii) to pinpoint the main plant biological traits and associated management practices underlying the development of a specific weed flora in this crop. We compared two large‐scale surveys covering France in the 1970s and the 2000s, the later survey including several floristic samplings, on two dates, and both herbicide‐free control and treated plots. This last survey aimed to identify the species best able to maintain high densities over a growing season of oilseed rape. Since the 1970s, the frequency of two‐thirds (69%) of the 26 most common species has changed, spectacularly in some cases, with several species once considered rare becoming very common (e.g. Geranium dissectum) and, conversely, some formerly common species becoming rarer (e.g. Stellaria media). Our results indicated a general strong increase in specialist weeds of oilseed rape. Weed species success was favoured by tolerance to oilseed rape herbicides and germination synchronous with the crop. The proportion of specialist oilseed rape weed species tended to increase with herbicide treatment intensity and to decrease with increases in the proportion of spring‐sown crops in the rotation. Changes to the rotation may therefore constitute an additional or alternative means of controlling some weeds well adapted to oilseed rape crops.     

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.     

不同配比除草剂燕麦除草研究初探

为了解决燕麦生产中日益突出的草害问题,通过对燕麦进行不同配比的除草剂应用试验,测得用药后各处理杂草鲜重和小区产量,并以此数据测算各处理杂草防效和产量挽回损失率,经方差分析评价各配比除草剂,选出多个较好的配方。其中二甲戊乐灵播后苗前处理和嗯草酮播后苗前处理对单子叶杂草、双子叶杂草的防效及小区产量挽回损失率均与人工除草对照无差异,同时又显著好于无药剂对照。     

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.     

Performance of pyrazosulfuron-ethyl in non-puddled transplanted rainy season rice and its residual effect on growth of the succeeding crop in rice-wheat cropping pattern

Abstract

A study was carried out in sandy clay loam textured soil of Mymensingh, Bangladesh to evaluate weed control efficiency of pre-emergence herbicide pyrazosulfuron-ethyl either alone or in sequential application with post-emergence herbicide in transplanted rainy season rice under non-puddled strip-tilled (NPST) field condition and also to examine the residual effect of those herbicides on germination and growth of the subsequently grown wheat crop. Five treatment combinations of pyrazosulfuron-ethyl were tested against one weedy check and one weed-free check. The study revealed that NPST rice field was mostly infested by grass and sedge weeds and herbicide treatments offered a wide range of control (above 50% to 95%) on all types of weeds. Application of pyrazosulfuron-ethyl followed by (fb) orthosulfamuron fb butachlor plus propanil provided the most effective and economic weed control over two years of the study. Moreover, micro-plot bioassay study claimed germination and growth of subsequently grown wheat were not adversely affected by herbicides that were applied in rice. Therefore, application of pyrazosulfuron-ethyl followed by post-emergence herbicide could be effective and economic to control weeds in NPST rice under rice-wheat system, but proper rate and time of application should strictly be followed.     

Influence of liquid manure application method on weed control in spring cereals

Summary Injection of liquid manure (slurry) into the soil is an alternative to the traditional surface application. By the injection method, it is possible to place nutrients closer to the crop sown, thus offering the crop a competitive advantage over weeds. This study compares the response in crop yield, weed density and weed biomass to injection vs. surface application of liquid manure through three growing seasons in barley and oats. The manure applications were combined with treatments of weed harrowing or herbicide spraying or no treatment at all. The levels of weed control and crop yield obtained by harrowing and herbicides were larger when slurry was injected compared with surface application. Without any weed control treatments, the injection method decreased the final weed biomass in barley. The influence of nutrient injection on yield and weed control seemed to be modulated by the time of emergence and the early growth rate of the crop relative to weeds. Thus, because of its early root growth and development, barley responded more quickly to the injection treatment than oats. Consequently, barley became a more competitive crop.     

Weeding techniques in transplanted and direct wet-seeded rice in Pakistan

Field studies were undertaken to explore the weed management strategies for transplanted and direct wet-seeded rice in the Dera Ismail Khan district of North-west Frontier Province, Pakistan. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with a split plot arrangement. The main plots consisted of two planting techniques (transplantation and direct seeding), while weed control practises assigned to the subplots included the use of the granular herbicide Sunstar 15WG (ethoxy sulfuron), Machete 60EC (butachlor), conventional hand weeding, and the weedy check (untreated control). Data were recorded on weed dynamics and the agronomic parameters of the rice crop. Economic analyses on the data were also run. The weed density and biomass were lower in the transplantation plots than the direct-seeding plots. The herbicides ethoxy sulfuron and butachlor reduced the density over the weedy check, with a density comparable to hand weeding in 2002, but slightly higher in 2003. As a result of weed management by hand weeding and herbicides, the paddy yield and its components were significantly higher for the transplanted method compared to the direct-seeded method. The comparable yield of herbicides with hand weeding offers an option for the use of herbicides as an alternative management tool. In light of our findings, it is concluded that for good economic returns, rice crops may be transplanted rather than direct-seeded. The herbicides ethoxy sulfuron and butachlor offer a weed control cover comparable with hand weeding under the transplantation method, while butachlor is good for controlling weeds even under the direct-seeded conditions in the agroclimatic conditions of the area.     

Residual effects of cultivation methods on weed seed banks and weeds in Cambodia

The effects of the planting method (transplanting vs. direct seeding), rice cultivar (Sen Pidao vs. Phka Rumduol), and herbicide application (admixture of bentazone and cyhalofop‐butyl) on weeds and weed seed banks were quantified in unflooded, shallowly flooded, and deeply flooded paddy fields in Cambodia in 2005 and 2006. Broad‐leaved weeds infested more toward maturity in 2006 than in 2005, particularly in directly seeded plots. Weed dry weights at pre‐heading and/or maturity were consistently reduced by herbicide application and Phka Rumduol cultivar, while weed numbers increased under unflooded condition. The proportion of sedges was consistently larger in directly seeded and non‐herbicide plots at pre‐heading. Larger numbers and dry weights of sedges and total weeds in 2005 caused larger seed bank sizes of sedges and total weeds in 2006, which further caused their infestation in 2006. A greater weed dry weight at 62 days after sowing in 2005 resulted in larger seed banks of Cyperus iria and Fimbristylis miliacea, which were most severe under non‐herbicide, direct‐seeded treatment, while that at rice maturity resulted in larger seed banks of Cyperus difformis, Scirpus juncoides, and Lindernia antipoda. Overall, sedges shared the majority of the total weed seed bank, followed by broad‐leaved weeds and then grasses. A lower yield in 2005 led to significantly larger seed bank sizes of sedges, but not of grasses or broad‐leaved weeds. Rice yield reduction was consistently related to larger numbers of sedges by heading and those of grasses at maturity.     

SELECTIVITY OF SOME NEW HERBICIDES FOR DIRECT-SEEDED FLOODED RICE IN THE TROPICS

Summary. Granular formulations of several new herbicides were tested for control of weeds in direct-seeded tropical rice. S -(4-chlorobenzyl)- N N -diethylthiolcarbamate (benthiocarb) and N -(butoxymethyl)-2-chloro-2',6'-diethylacetanilide (CP 53619) showed a high degree of selectivity between rice and weed seedlings. Applied 6 days after seeding, when grass weeds were at the 1-2-leaf stage, both herbicides gave excellent control of Echinochloa crus-galli and other weeds, and caused little or no damage to rice cv. IR22.     

Herbicide options for weed control in papaya

This paper reviews the literature on weeds and weed control in papaya. There is limited research on this topic, and nearly all of the research focuses on herbicides. Effective use of paraquat and glyphosate in papaya is dependent on avoidance of spray contact to green bark and foliage. Pre-emergence herbicide tolerance is dependent on papaya age, size and maturity, and soil type. Only one herbicide, oryzalin is shown to be tolerated by papaya immediately after transplanting. Herbicides such as diuron and oxyfluorfen with a broader spectrum of weed control generally injure young papaya, however they can be effectively used if the initial application of these herbicides is delayed until papaya attains certain size or maturity indices. There is a need for further research on weeds and weed control to improve the efficiency of papaya production