Chemical Weed Control in Important Cereals Crops
i) Rice ( Paddy) :
Butachlor (Machete) @ 1 to 2.5 kg a.i /ha.
Or
2,4-D ethyl ester granules @ 0.8 to 1.2 kg a.e /ha.
Time of Application:
Apply upto 10 days after transplanting in lowland rice. The granular herbicides are easier to apply. At the time of their application keep 3 to 7 cm of standing water till 7 days later.
In Drilled ( Uplands rice) or Broadcasted rice as pre-emergence spray upto 3 days after sowing.
Or
2,4-D or MCP @ 0.75 to 1 kg. a.e /ha as post emergence spray when rice is fully tiller stage but before boot stage.
For Rice Nursery:
Butachlor or benthiocarb @ 1 to 1.5 kg a.i /ha about 4 to 7 days before or after sowing in wet soil.
2) Sorghum (Jawar) and Pearl Millet ( Bajari):
Atrazine @ 0.5 to 1 kg a.i /ha as pre-emergence spray or as post emergence spray for juvenile weeds in their 1 to 2 leaf stage.
Or
2,4-D @ 1 to 1.5 kg a.e /ha as post emergence spray when height of the crop is 10 to 20 cm i.e about 2 weeks after sowing for control of Striga use as directed spray before flowering or at early stage of Striga. Do not use 2,4-D when crop is in flowering stage. Also not useful for intercropping of pulses and groundnut.
For Intercropping Groundnut and Pulses in Sorghum and Pearl Millet:
Use fuluchloralin ( Basalin) @ 1 to 1.5 kg a.i /ha ppl ( Pre-planting incorporation) or pre-emergence spray.
Or
Pendimethalin ( Stomp 30EC) @ 1 to 1.5 kg a.i/ha as PPL or preemergence spray.
3) Maize:
Atrazine or simazine @ 0.5 to 2 kg a.i /ha as pre-emergence spray within 2 days after sowing.
Or
2,4-D @ 0.5 to 1 kg a.e /ha as post emergence spray when crop height is 8 to 10 cm ( 25 to 30 DAS) as post emergence spray when crop height is 8 to 10 cm ( 25 to 30 DAS) for sole or pulse crop.
For Intercropping of pulses in maize use Alachlor ( Lasso) 1 to 2 kg a.i /ha as pre-emergence spray within 2 days after sowing. It is effective against grasses and weaker dicot weeds.
4) Wheat:
2,4-D or MCPA @ 0.5 to 1 kg a.e/ha about 25 to 30 days after sowing as post emergence spray ( 5 leaf stage of the crop after receiving first irrigation at CRI stage).
Or
Dicamba @ 0.5 kg a.i /ha as post emergence spray use 25 to 30 DAS.
For Wheat Mustard Intercropping Use Pendimethalin @ 1 to 1.5 kg a.e /ha as pre-emergence spray immediately after sowing or as pre plant incorporation just before sowing. Pendimethalin is also useful for pure crop of wheat as PPI or Pre-emergence spray.