Performance of cultivated indica rice (Oryza Sativa L.) as affected by weedy rice

Weedy rice species exhibit differential competitive ability and cause significant losses to rice yield. The present study was conducted to evaluate the competing ability of weedy rice accessions collected from foothills of eastern Himalayas and coastal Odisha grown in the presence of cultivated indica rice var. Swarna. The competitive ability of Swarna and weedy rices were estimated on the basis of (i) Swarna yield reduction under different durations of competition with weedy rice; and (ii) nutrient uptake by Swarna and weedy rice in competitive environment. There was significant yield reduction (18%) when competition was allowed until 6 weeks after emergence (WAE) compared to competition until 2 WAE, which was due to vigorous growth of weedy rice at early vegetative stage. The biomass accumulation and tiller number of weedy rice were significantly higher compared to Swarna. Odisha weedy rice accession recorded about 18, 57 and 24% higher N, P and K uptake, respectively, than Swarna. The highest yield reduction (22%) in Swarna was recorded when grown with OA1 and the lowest impact (7.7%) was recorded with AA2. As conclusion, management practices should be implemented within 2-4 weeks of emergence considering 5-10% acceptable yield loss of Swarna, and grain yield of cultivated rice was reduced significantly by high N and K uptake by weedy rice under a competitive environment.