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Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Vol. 13 No. sp5 (2026): Recent Advances in Agriculture

Synergistic effects of new generation herbicides and cultural practices on the performance and economics of direct-seeded rice

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.13740
Submitted
30 January 2026
Published
22-07-2026

Abstract

Weed infestation is a major production constraint in direct-seeded rice (DSR), causing severe yield losses due to intense crop weed competition. A field study was conducted at the Experimental Farm, Department of Agronomy, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu during the kharif seasons of 2022 and 2023 to assess the efficacy of new generation herbicides and cultural practices on weed suppression, crop performance and economic returns in DSR. The study employed a randomised block design with 3 replications, comprising treatments of bensulfuron methyl + pretilachlor (PE), triafamone + ethoxysulfuron (EPoE) and bispyribac sodium (PoE), each combined with manual or cono weeding, along with an unweeded control. Results indicated that bensulfuron methyl 0.6 % + pretilachlor 6 % granules (GR) (PE) at 10 kg ha-1 on 7 days after sowing (DAS) followed by manual weeding on 40 DAS (T4) achieved the most effective weed control, with weed control efficiencies of 77.95 % and 81.68 % and grain yields of 4.86 and 5.30 t ha-1 in both seasons. While the treatment of bensulfuron methyl 0.6 % + pretilachlor 6 % GR (PE) at 10 kg ha-1 on 7 DAS followed by manual weeding on 40 DAS (T4) maximised productivity, T5 (bensulfuron methyl 0.6 % + pretilachlor 6 % GR (PE) at 10 kg ha-1 on 7 DAS followed by cono weeding on 40 DAS) recorded the highest benefit-cost ratio, indicating better economic efficiency. The study clearly demonstrates that the integration of pre-emergence herbicides with cono weeding provides an efficient and economically viable weed management strategy for DSR under labour- and water-constrained conditions.

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