Weed Control Efficiency of Some Herbicides in Upland Rice Ecology of Kano State Nigeria

Abstract

Rice is infested with a wide variety of weeds and the losses due to weeds could go as high as 43%, a range of herbicides is being used for the effective management of weeds in upland rice. The experiments were conducted in 2016 and 2017 raining seasons at Audu Bako College of Agriculture Dambatta research farm in Kano State of Nigeria to evaluate the efficacy of some pre and post emergence herbicides on weed control efficiency in upland rice. The experiment consisted of twenty weed control strategies by the use of Butachlor at two levels i.e. 1.0 and 1.5 kg a.i. ha^-1 (pre-emergence), Orizo-plus (2,4-D+Propanil) at two levels i.e. 2.8 and 4.5 kg a.i. ha ^-1,Rainbow-OD (Penoxsulam) at two levels i.e. 0.025 and 0.030 kg a.i. ha^-1 and Solito 320 EC (Pretilachlor+Pyribenzoxim)  also at two levels i.e. 0.320 and 0.480 kg a.i. ha^-1 (post-emergence). All the post-emergence herbicides were applied in various combinations with Butachlor and in some cases followed by supplementary hoe weeding (SHW) at 4, 8 and 4 & 8 weeks after sowing (WAS). Weed free and weedy plots were employed to serve as control. The experiments were laid out using randomized complete block design and replicated four times. The result indicated that use of Butachlor at 1.5 kg a.i. ha^-1fb Orizo plus at 4.5 kg a.i. ha^-1 to produce significantly lower weed cover score and dry weight, as well as higher weed control efficiency and paddy yield. However, similar result was obtained by manual hoe weeding (MHW at 2, 4, 6 & 8 WAS) treatment, but it was not economically rewarding.