Harnessing the full potential of low-dose high-potency (LDHP) herbicide molecules by standardized spraying technique in rice and wheat

Abstract

Efficient and effective methods of weed control are needed to ensure higher crop productivity and profitability. Herbicides use is becoming popular amongst farmers because of ease, efficiency and lesser cost involved. The efficacy of herbicide depends on the proper spraying technique. Recently, the new generation effective low-dose high-potency (LDHP) herbicide molecules are being introduced but their compatibility to the existing spraying techniques and practices is unknown. Hence, it is necessary to standardize existing spraying technique for LDHP molecules. Thus, to standardize the existing spraying technique with two LDHP molecules (bispyribac-Na and clodinafop + metsulfuron), a field experiment was conducted for two years (2016-18) in rice during Kharif season and wheat Rabi season. The postemergence (PoE) application of LDHP molecules, viz. bispyribac-Na at 25 g/ha in rice and clodinafop + metsulfuron at 60 + 4 g/ha in wheat were tested with flat fan (FF) and floodjet (FJ) nozzles using spraying volume of 250 and 500 l/ha. The weed control efficiency (WCE) obtained with different spray volume and nozzles usage was on par. The maximum WCE of 76% in rice and 89% in wheat was observed. A spray volume of 250 l/ha with either FF or FJ nozzle effectively controls the weeds and increases the field capacity by 60-100%.