PRSSP Upland Rice Program

Management of Weeds in
Upland Rice
 Importance of weeds
• In a survey in 36 countries representing 90% of the
upland rice area in the world
– Major constraint in 25 countries
• Yield loss range from 40-100%
• Weed free period needed of 40-60 days from
sowing
• In Laos, 50% of farmers’ time is spent on wed
control (140-190 days/ha)
• In the Philippines potential yield loss is between 31-
100% but the actual yield loss can be at 0-90%
 Guiding principle
• In general weeds should be controlled during
the first 30% of the life cycle of the rice crop
• Ex.
– First 30 days for a 100-day variety
– First 40 days of a 120-day variety
– First 45 days of a 150-day variety
 Weed Control options
• Use competitive cultivars/varieties
– Use cultivars with height of 90-110 cm, can
compete with weeds better and not susceptible to
lodging
– Has good early vigor (fast growing in the first 10-
20 days
– High tillering ability
– High leaf area index
 Weed Control options
• Use competitive cultivars/varieties
– Use cultivars with height of 90-110 cm, can
compete with weeds better and not susceptible to
lodging
– Has good early vigor (fast growing in the first 10-
20 days
– High tillering ability
– High leaf area index
 Weed Control options
• Land preparation
• allow successive flushes of weeds to emerged following
rainfall and controlling them wither with a shallow
cultivation or by application of non-selective non-
residual herbicide
• Arakan Farmers plow their field 3-4 times and harrow
2-3 times before planting
• Plowing starts in December- January and planting
March-April
• Almost 60% pay <P2,000 for weed control,20% use
family labor
 Weed Control options
• Land preparation
– Desiccation
• plowing at the end of the rainy season
• brings many of the roots, rootstocks and vegetative
propagules of perennial weeds to the soil surface and
are killed by desiccation
• repeated cultivation may be needed to greatly reduce
reproductive propagules of perennial weeds
 Weed Control options
Closer row spacing and seeding rate
– Row spacing can be made closer (but allow
passage of inter-row implement) to compliment
early canopy closure.
– Higher seed rate can also help rice cultivars to
overcome weed competition.
 Weed Control options
• Hand weeding
• Inter-row cultivation + manual weeding
– 7-10 days after rice emergence to remove weeds
within rows followed by handweeding 25-30 days
after rice emergence. Additional handweeding
may be done as necessary.
– 90% of farmers in Arakan use hand weeding and
10% use inter-row cultivation followed by hand
weeding.
 Weed Control options
Herbicide followed by hand weeding
– Few farmers use herbicides in upland rice
– In Arakan farmers don’t use herbicide but in
President Roxas 19% of the farmers use herbicide
fb hand weeding
 Weed Control options
Some recommended herbicides for upland rice
– Oxadiazon (Ronstar) at 1 kg a.i/ha (4 L/ha)
– Pendimethalin (Herbadox) at 1.-2.0 kg a.i./ha (3-6
L/ha) for control of grasses particularly R.
cochinchinensis
– 2,4-D for broadleaved and sedge weed control
– In areas where Imperata sp. (cogongrass) is a
problem application of glyphosate is suggested
 Weed Control options
Cover crops
• Where perennial weeds are present (e.g. Imperata
cylindrica and Cyperus rotundus), Ground
covering legume plants and mulches can play a very
important role in both improving the soil fertility and
combat perennial weeds.
 Upland areas in Luang Prabang, Laos

Legume cover crop Lablab purpureus to manage Imperata sp.

 Weed Control options
Intercropping
• It is growing of two or
more crops
simultaneously one the
same piece of land
• Increases productivity,
insurance, reduced
weed growth and
reduced pest problems
• Interplanting of different crops at a given time.
• Examples are mixed cropping and inter-planting
techniques.
– Arakan experience:
• Crop combinations have attained higher productivity
over monocropping
– Rice + Rice (traditonal + modern cultivar)
– Rice + rice + Corn
– Rice + Rice + Mungbean
– Rice + Rice + Peanut
– Rice + Rice + Soybean
Rice + maize

Rice + mungbean
Rice + peanut
 Major weeds of upland rice
• Rottboellia cochinchinensis – aguingay
 Management of R. cochinchinensis
Galinato MI, Moody K, Piggin CM. 1999. Upland rice weeds of South and Southeast
Asia. Makati City (Philippines): International Rice Research Institute. 156 p.

• Cultural.
– Regular cultivation every 2-5 wk is effective in
controlling R. cochinchinensis because most seeds
exhibit little dormancy and germinate together at
the start of the rainy season.
– Careful prevention of seeding, and machinery
hygiene, can practically eliminate the weed.
 Management of R. cochinchinensis
Galinato MI, Moody K, Piggin CM. 1999. Upland rice weeds of South and Southeast
Asia. Makati City (Philippines): International Rice Research Institute. 156 p.

• Chemical.
– R. cochinchinensis can be controlled by
preemergence application of pendimethalin (1.5-
2.0 kg ha -1 ) or
– early postemergence (3-5-leaf stage) treatment of
cyhalofop butyl (0.1-0.15 kg ha -1 ), fenoxaprop-P-
ethyl, propanil (2 kg ha -1 ),
– or a tank-mix application of pendimethalin and
fluazifop-P-butyl (1.0 + 0.08 kg ha -1 ).
 Major weeds of upland rice
• Cyperus rotundus - mutha, sudsud
 Management of C. rotundus
Galinato MI, Moody K, Piggin CM. 1999. Upland rice weeds of South and Southeast
Asia. Makati City (Philippines): International Rice Research Institute. 156 p.

• Cultural and mechanical

– controlled by narrow row spacing and high plant density of
crops to provide rapid shading of the soil surface
– Planting permanent pastures usually suppresses
infestations until the field is again tilled
– Repeated soil disturbance early in the season is
effective because tubers in the upper soil layers
are vulnerable to desiccation
– Tillage is always most effective when soil is dry
 Management of C. rotundus
Galinato MI, Moody K, Piggin CM. 1999. Upland rice weeds of South and Southeast
Asia. Makati City (Philippines): International Rice Research Institute. 156 p.

• Chemical
– tuber population can be reduced by repeated
application of 2,4-D and cultivation
– almost complete control can be achieved using
herbicide combinations such as preplant
application of 2 kg of glyphosate, followed by 2,4-
D at 1 kg ha at 20 d after sowing.
-1
 Major weeds of upland rice
• Eleusine indica - palagtiki, parag-is
 Management of C. rotundus
Galinato MI, Moody K, Piggin CM. 1999. Upland rice weeds of South and Southeast
Asia. Makati City (Philippines): International Rice Research Institute. 156 p.

• Cultural.
– Young plants have a shallow root system and can
easily be controlled by hoeing and hand
cultivation. When established, this weed develops
a strong root system and uprooting becomes
difficult.
 Management of C. rotundus
• Chemical.
– E. indica can be controlled by preemergence
application of oxadiazon (0.75-1.0 kg ha -1 ) or
pendimethalin 1.5-2.0 kg ha -1 or butachlor (2 kg
ha -1 ),
– or early postemergence (3-5-leaf stage or 15-25 d
after emergence) application of cyhalofop butyl
(0.1-0.15 kg ha -1 ), fenoxaprop-P-ethyl (0.06 kg
ha -1 ), fluazifop-P-butyl (0.1-0.6 kg ha -1 ), or
propanil (2 kg ha -1 ). Beyond the 5-leaf stage,
higher rates of cyhalofop butyl are recommended.
Galinato MI, Moody K, Piggin CM. 1999. Upland rice weeds of South and Southeast
Asia. Makati City (Philippines): International Rice Research Institute. 156 p.
 Major weeds of upland rice
• Echinochloa colona – guinga, pulang puwet
 Management of E. colona
Galinato MI, Moody K, Piggin CM. 1999. Upland rice weeds of South and Southeast
Asia. Makati City (Philippines): International Rice Research Institute. 156 p.

• Cultural
– Cultivation during early growth can control the
weed.
– It is readily controlled by hand and hoe.
 Management of E. colona
Galinato MI, Moody K, Piggin CM. 1999. Upland rice weeds of South and Southeast
Asia. Makati City (Philippines): International Rice Research Institute. 156 p.

• Chemical
– can be controlled by preemergence application of
oxadiazon (0.75-1.0 kg ha ) or pendimethalin 1.5-
-1

2.0 kg ha or butachlor (2 kg ha -1 )
– or postemergence (3-5 leaves or 15-25 d after
emergence) application of cyhalofop butyl (0.1-
0.15 kg ha ), fenoxaprop-P-ethyl (55 g ha ), or
-1 -1

fluazifop-P-butyl (0.1-0.6 kg ha ) -1
 Major weeds of upland rice
• Ageratum conyzoides – baho-baho, damong-pallas
 Management of A. conyzoides
Galinato MI, Moody K, Piggin CM. 1999. Upland rice weeds of South and Southeast
Asia. Makati City (Philippines): International Rice Research Institute. 156 p.

• Cultural
– can be readily controlled when young by hand
pulling or hoeing
• Chemical
– Application of 2,4-D at 0.5 to 0.8 kg ha -1 or MCPA
at 0.4 kg ha -1 within 20-30 d after emergence
gives good control.
– Butachlor and oxadiazon at planting are also
effective in controlling this weed.
 Major weeds of upland rice
• Dactyloctenium aegyptium – damong balang, krus-krusan
 Management of D. aegyptium
Galinato MI, Moody K, Piggin CM. 1999. Upland rice weeds of South and Southeast
Asia. Makati City (Philippines): International Rice Research Institute. 156 p.

• Cultural.
– Early hand weeding has been recommended for
control
• Chemical
– can be controlled by preemergence application of
oxadiazon (0.75-1.0 kg ha ) or pendimethalin (1.5-
-1

2.0 kg ha ) -1
 Management of D. aegyptium
Galinato MI, Moody K, Piggin CM. 1999. Upland rice weeds of South and Southeast
Asia. Makati City (Philippines): International Rice Research Institute. 156 p.

• Chemical
– or early postemergence (3-5 leaves or 15-25 d
after emergence) application of cyhalofop butyl
(0.1-0.15 kg ha -1 ), propanil (2 kg ha -1 ), or
fenoxaprop-P-ethyl (55 g ha -1 ).
– Beyond the 5-leaf stage, higher rates of cyhalofop
butyl are recommended.
 Major weeds of upland rice
• Digitaria setigera and ciliaris
D. ciliaris D. sitegera
 Management of D. ciliaris
Galinato MI, Moody K, Piggin CM. 1999. Upland rice weeds of South and Southeast
Asia. Makati City (Philippines): International Rice Research Institute. 156 p.
• Cultural.
– Removal by hand or hoe when young provides effective
control.
• Chemical.
– D. ciliaris can be controlled by preemergence application
of oxadiazon (0.75-1.0 kg ha -1 ) or pendimethalin
(1.5- 2.0 kg ha -1 ) or early postemergence (15-25
d after emergence) application of butachlor (2 kg
ha -1 ), fenoxaprop-P-ethyl (55 g ha -1 ), or
propanil (2 kg ha -1 ).
 Management of D. sitegera
Galinato MI, Moody K, Piggin CM. 1999. Upland rice weeds of South and Southeast
Asia. Makati City (Philippines): International Rice Research Institute. 156 p.

• Cultural.
– Cultivation or cutting can provide some immediate
control of the weed, although stem fragments can
regrow.
• Chemical.
– D. setigera can be controlled effectively by
fenoxaprop-P-ethyl at 55 g ha -1 applied 15-25 d
after emergence.
 Major weeds of upland rice
• Mimosa invisa – makahiyang lalake, makahiya

Galinato MI, Moody K, Piggin CM. 1999. Upland rice weeds of South and Southeast
Asia. Makati City (Philippines): International Rice Research Institute. 156 p.
 Management of M. invisa
• Cultural.
– In general, neither cultivation nor cutting and burning
are effective methods of control because regrowth
from the crown and seedling establishment quickly
replace the aerial growth removed.
– Hand weeding is possible in small areas, but the
thorns make weeding difficult and unpleasant.
• Chemical.
– MCPA at 0.4 kg ha -1 applied 25-30 d after seeding is
effective in controlling the weed in upland rice.