ABSTRACT
Weeds are most damaging to the rice crop in terms of decreasing its productivity. The reduction in paddy yield owing to weeds is around 35%, however, the yield losses may approach to 75-100% if there is high weed infestation in the rice fields. Echinochloa species and Cyperus species are among the most important rice weeds. Although several of Echinochloa species infest rice fields, the most important of these are Echinochloa crus-galli, Echinochloa oryzoides, and Echinochloa colona. Dry and flooded rice fields may have a different weed flora. Weeds such as Cynodon dactylon and Trianthema portulacastrum are usually prevalent in dry-seeded rice. A high intensity of weeds in rice will require an integrated use of multiple methods for achieving sustainable weed control. Preventive weed control can play an important in decreasing the seed production and further dispersal of weeds in the rice fields. Preventive practices should be combined with cultural weed control. Stale seedbed, flooding, puddling, solarization and crop rotation may be considered as the most important among these. An integrated use of cultural and mechanical weed control with allelopathy, herbicide applications and preventive measures can help to achieve sustainable weed management in rice.
