Severity of associated weeds in rabi crops and their control measures perceived by farmers

Abstract

Purpose: The study was conducted to identify the associated weeds of Rabi (winter) crops and their control measures used by the farmers at Dumuria and Batiaghata upazila in Khulna district of Bangladesh. Research Method: Data were collected from purposively selected 73 respondents using structured interview conducted from 4 January to 20 April, 2019. Findings: In the study area, Echinochloa crussgalli and Cynodon dactylon were found as dominant within rice fields with the highest severity index of 25.34% and 20.54% respectively. In sesame fields, Cucumis melo var. agrestis and Cynodon dactylon were found with 16.78% and 12.33% severity index respectively. The severity index of Cynodon dactylon was the highest in majority of the vegetable crops. The weeding of rice, potato, bitter gourd, spinach, country bean was done within the critical weeding regime but in the rest of the crops weeding was not done during the critical weeding regime. Originality/value: Farmers spend about 40% of the total production cost on weed control and the critical weeding regime has a major impact on effectiveness of weed control, overall economic benefit and net income.