Evaluation of bioherbicide for controlling weedy rice and enhancing the yield of rice in Malaysia

Abstract

Aim : Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the second most important food crop in Malaysia, and weedy rice is the severe constraint in the Malaysian rice field. An experiment was conducted in Shadehouse at Field 2, Universiti Putra Malaysia to assess the performance of Agropius BioDcomposer as a bioherbicide to control weedy rice and to select appropriate dosage of Agropius BioDcomposer for effective control of weedy rice in the rice field. Methodology: Ten treatments of herbicides were applied in the experiment viz., control (0 ml), Agropius BioDcomposer® (150 ml 201-1 water, 300 ml 201-1 water and 450 ml 201-1 water), Paraquat (125 ml 201-1 water, 250 ml 201-1 water and 375 ml 201-1 water) and the combination of Agropius BioDcomposer® with Paraquat @150 ml 201-1 water + @125 ml 201-1 water, 300 ml 201-1 water + 250 ml 201-1 water and 450 ml 201-1 water+375 ml 201-1 water). Data on the percentage of weedy rice killed three days after treatments and percentage of weedy rice emergence 7 and 14 days after soil application of treatments were recorded to evaluate the efficacy of different treatments. Results : The results revealed significant differences among treatments in the percentage of weedy rice killed, weedy rice emergence after treatments application and the ultimate yield of rice. Paraquat, @ 375 ml 201-1 water and a combination of Agropius BioDcomposer® and Paraquat (300 ml 201-1 water + 250 ml 201-1 water) performed better over other treatments to kill the weedy rice, to control the emergence of weedy rice from the seed bank and produced the highest rice yield. Interpretation : The overall result revealed that the recommended rate of Agropius BioDcomposer® + Paraquat (300 ml 20l-1 water + 250 ml 20 l-1 water) is more appropriate and suitable for environmental friendly control of weedy rice in Malaysia.