Influence of supplementary hoe weeding on the efficacy of ButaForce for lowland rice (Oryza sativa L.) weed management

Abstract

Field experiments to determine the influence of supplementary hoe weeding on the efficacy of ButaForce (N-(butoxymethyl)-2-chloro-N-2,6-dimethyl acetanilide) for low land rice (Oryza sativa L.) weed management was conducted at the Faculty of Agriculture Teaching and Research Farm of the University of Port Harcourt during the early cropping seasons of 2018 and 2019. Seven treatments were used for the experiment namely: ButaForce at 1.5 L/ha + SHW (21 DAS), ButaForce at 2.0 L/ha + SHW (21 DAS), ButaForce at 2.5 L/ha + SHW (21DAS), ButaForce at 3.0 L/ha (recommended rate), weed-free (weekly weeding), hoe weeded twice at 21 and 42 DAS and weedy check. The treatments were laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replicates. Results from the study showed that weed-free check (weekly weeding) was more effective in weed control in lowland rice. It also gave the highest growth and yield attributes over all other treatments. Weed suppression and rice performance was better in plots treated with ButaForce at 2.5 L/ha + SHW (21 DAS) than in other supplementary hoe weeding. The economic analysis showed that although hoe weeded plots had higher yields, the profit obtained from them were lower when compared with the supplementary hoe weeding and ButaForce at 3.0 L/ha. Among all the weed control treatment, plots treated with ButaForce at 2.5 L/ha with supplementary hoe weeding gave the highest profit. Since the highest profit was recorded in plots treated with ButaForce at 2.5 L/ha with supplementary hoe weeding, it is therefore recommended to rice farmers in the study area.

Rice pests in the Republic of Benin: farmers' perceptions, knowledge and management practices

“…Regarding rice pest management, the surveyed farmers used several recommendable strategies such as the combination of hoe weeding and selective herbicides for weed control, 53,54 the used of human bird scares and scarecrows for bird control, 39 and traps for rodent control 55 . However, some surveyed farmers used glyphosate as herbicide even though it is known that glyphosate is harmful to the environment and human health, and poses health risks to fish populations inhabiting rice fields 56 .…”

Weed management in rainfed lowland rice ecology in Nigeria – challenges and opportunities

“…To cultivate rice on a large scale in Nigeria, chemical weed control represents a practical and economical alternative to hand weeding (Akobundu 1981;Alhassan et al 2015a;Bakare et al 2008aBakare et al , 2008bBakare et al , 2008cImeokparia and Okunsanya 1997;Jiya et al 2019;Omovbude et al 2020). Selective pre-emergence herbicides such as pretilachlor plus dimethametryn, oxadiazon, and butachlor, and postemergence herbicides such as piperophos plus propanil, thiobencarb, and propanil have been recommended for weed control in lowland rice at varying rates in different agroecologies (Akobundu 1987;Bakare et al 2008aBakare et al , 2008bBakare et al , 2008cEnyinnia and Nwosu 1992;Jiya et al 2019;Okafor 1981;Omovbude et al 2020). The timely application of these herbicides has reduced weed infestation more effectively compared to manual weeding.…”