Effect of Different Weed Management Practices on Nutrient Uptake by Weeds and Crop Yield of Organic Basmati Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

An  field experiment was conducted during Kharif season of 2021at the Organic Farming Research Centre, Chatha, SKUAST- J to evaluate the effect of different weed management practices on nutrient uptake and yield in organic basmati rice production. The experiment was conducted in Randomized Block Design with 11 treatments which were replicated thrice. The highest nitrogen (29.66 kg/ha), phosphorus (16.22 kg/ha) and potassium (32.66 kg/ha) uptake by weeds were recorded in weedy check. Amongst organic weed management treatments, application of vinegar @ 10 % at 5 DBT + hand weeding at 30 DAT which was though statistically at par with recommended practice of two hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAT recorded significantly lowest nitrogen (2.31 kg/ha), phosphorus (1.21 kg/ha) and potassium (2.44 kg/ha) uptake by weeds followed by the application of vinegar @ 5 % at 5 DBT + hand weeding at 30 DAT and application of rice bran @ 2.5 t/ha (extract at 1:3 wt./vol. basis) at 5 DBT + hand weeding at 30 DAT than weedy check and other organic weed management treatments in comparison. However, maximum grain and straw yield was recorded with the application of vinegar @ 10% at 5 DBT fb one hand weeding at 30 DAT to the tune of 31.17 q/ha and 54.27 q/ha, respectively. Thus, it may be concluded that the application of vinegar @ 10 % at 5 DBT fb one hand weeding at 30 DAT may be recommended as economical viable option in organic basmati rice crop.