Assessment of Weed Dynamics and Crop Response Through Integrated Weed Management Strategies in Drum Seeded Rice

Background: A field trial was carried out during the Navarai season (Jan - Apr) of 2025 at the wetland Farm of SRM College of Agricultural Sciences, located in Baburayanpettai, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, India to assess the effect of integrated weed management strategies in drum-seeded rice. Methods: The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) consisting of ten treatments with three replications. The treatments comprised combinations of Bensulfuron methyl + Pretilachlor (PE), Trifamone + Ethoxysulfuron (EPoE), Florpyrauxifen-benzyl + Cyhalofop-butyl (POE), in combination of hand weeding and power weeding. Result: Findings indicated that applying PE Bensulfuron methyl + Pretilachlor (660 g/ha) followed by POE Florpyrauxifen-benzyl + Cyhalofop-butyl (150 g/ha) significantly reduced weed density, enhancing weed control efficiency and growth parameters like plant height, tiller count and panicle characteristics and also resulted in the highest straw yield (7215 kg/ha) and grain yield (5,550 kg/ha). The research concludes that employing combination of pre and post emergence herbicides represents a viable approach for effective weed control and enhanced productivity in drum-seeded rice.