PRODUCTIVITY AND PROFITABILITY OF SHORT DURATION MONSOON RICE UNDER VARYING RICE ESTABLISHMENT METHODS AND WEED MANAGEMENT PRACTICE

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during the aman season of 2024 to assess the effects of rice establishment methods and weed management practices on weed pressure, crop performance, and the economic profitability of Binadhan-7, a short-duration monsoon rice (aman) variety. Three establishment methods viz. (i) zero-till non-puddled transplanted (ZT-NPT) (ii) reduced-till non-puddled transplanted (RT-NPT) and (iii) puddled transplanted (PT) rice, and six weed management practices viz. (i) Season-long weedy (W₀), (ii) Season-long weed free (W₁), (iii) Two hand weeding at 30 and 45 days after transplanting (DAT) (W₂), (iv) Pre-emergence herbicide (Pretilachlor) + One hand weeding at 45 DAT (W₃), (v) Pre + post-emergence herbicide (Penoxsulam) (W₄), (vi) Post-emergence herbicide + One hand weeding at 45 DAT (W₅) were tested in a split-plot design with three replications. Twelve weed species belonging to seven families infested the experimental plots, with the highest weed density and dry weight recorded under ZT-NPT, particularly in season-long weedy plots (W₀). ZT-NPT produced the highest grain (4.65 t ha⁻¹), straw (7.74 t ha⁻¹), and biological yields (12.39 t ha⁻¹). Among weed management practices, season-long weed-free conditions (W₁) resulted in the highest grain yield, while integrated weed control performed comparably. The interaction of zero-till non-puddled transplanting with post-emergence herbicide followed by one hand weeding at 45 DAT produced the maximum grain yield (4.99 t ha⁻¹) and the highest economic return (BCR 2.55). In conclusion, combining conservation tillage with integrated weed management proved to be the most productive and economically viable strategy for sustainable aman rice production.