Agronomic management strategies to enhance higher production in aerobic rice (oryza sativa L.)

A field experiment was carried out with graded levels of nitrogen and different weed management strategies to achieve higher productivity in aerobic rice cultivation in the Cauvery delta region. ANNA4 ruling variety was sown for two consecutive Kharif seasons. Growth parameters viz., plant height, leaf area index, Number of tillers m-2 and yield parameters viz., panicles m-2,Dry matter production at flowering, grain yield, straw yield were studied. The study revealed that M3S2 proved to be the best in terms of production 3.61 tons ha-1 in the first season and 3.68 tons ha-1 in the second season respectively. Plant height at different stages viz., maximum tillering, panicle initiation, flowering and harvest was highest in (125% of RDF Nitrogen+ Hand weedings twice at 15 and 30 DAS)on par with(125% of RDF Nitrogen+ Bispyribac sodium at 250 ml a.i. ha-1 at 15 DAS followed by hand weeding on 30 DAS). Similar was the case with number of tillers, straw yield, panicles m-2 and dry matter production at flowering stage. Leaf area index was highest for (125% of RDF Nitrogen+ Hand weeding’s twice at 20 and 40 DAS)on par with (125% of RDF Nitrogen+ Bispyribac sodium at 250 ml a.i. ha-1 at 15 DAS followed by hand weeding on 30 DAS). The Benefit cost ratio was high in (125% of RDF Nitrogen+ Bispyribac sodium at 250 ml a.i. ha-1 at 15 DAS + hand weeding on 30 DAS)followed by (125% of RDF Nitrogen+ Hand weeding’s twice at 20 and 40 DAS). The above results reveal that (125% of RDF Nitrogen+ Bispyribac sodium at 250 ml a.i. ha-1 at 15 DAS followed by hand weeding on 30 DAS) is the most suitable weed management in aerobic cultivation in the economic aspect.