Effect of Weeding Regime and Plant Spacings on Weed Growth and Performance of Transplanted Rice

Abstract

Effect of weeding regime (unweeded control, hand weeding once, 4 weeks after transplanting (w.a.t.) and hand weeding twice, 4 and 7 w.a.t.) and different plant spacings (20 × 2.5 cm, 20 × 5 cm, 20 × 10 cm, 20 × 15 cm and 20 × 20 cm) on weed growth and performance of transplanted rice were tested in a split-plot design. Grain yield and number of panicles were not significantly different in both weeding treatments from the unweeded control at 20 × 2.5 to 20 × 10 cm spacings, showing that, at closer spacings weed control may not be necessary to increase grain yield. The number of weeds at harvest was significantly lower in the weeded plots than the unweeded control at all spacings used. Weed weight at harvest was significantly affected by weeding regime at all spacings except at 20 × 2.5 cm, where no significant difference was observed between the weeded and the unweeded plots. Plant spacings significantly affected the grain yield and weed weight, but did not affect the panicle number and weed counts of transplanted rice. At 20 × 2.5 cm, grain yield was significantly better than that at 20 × 15 cm or 20 × 20 cm. A simple trend of increase in grain yield along with the decrease in spacing between plants was observed in terms of actual grain yield.