A study on chemical weed management in boro rice: A review

Abstract

Characteristically boro rice is winter season, photo-insensitive, transplanted rice cultivated on supplemental irrigation, often under conditions, where farmers’ are not able to take any other rabi season crop. Butachlor, pretilachlor, bispyribac-sodium and anilofos are the most commonly used herbicides for control of weeds in boro rice. Weed competition is one of the prime yield limiting biotic constraints resulting in yield reduction to the tune of 28 to 45%. Echinochloa spp., Cynodon dactylon, Portulaca quadrifida and Cyperus spp. are the major weeds responsible for yield reduction in boro rice. However, continuous and indiscriminate use of herbicides for a longer period may result in buildup of problematic weeds and also development of herbicide resistance in weeds. It is therefore, necessary to review the performance of promising herbicides for chemical weed management to improve the production and productivity of boro rice under the climate change scenario.