COMBINED TILLAGE AND WEED CONTROL PRACTICES FOR UPLAND RICE ECOSYSTEM IN BULACAN
Dr. Josie A. Valdez
Abstract
The study aimed to develop an appropriate tillage and weed control practices for upland rice production in Bulacan. The following treatments were tested: T1 – the area was directly seeded by broadcast method followed by rotavating/leveling the area and no weed control; T2 – the area was directly seeded by broadcast method followed by rotavating/leveling the area and sprayed immediately with Glyphosate; T3 – initially the area was plowed/rotavated and then after 3-5 days it was directly seeded by broadcast method prior to the final harrowing; T4 – initially the area was plowed and then rotavated again after 3-5 days followed by direct seeding (broadcast method) and finally harrowed/leveled; T5 – initially the area was plowed/rotavated, then rotavated again after 5-7 days followed by making furrows using the designed furrower, manually seeded in the furrows then finally leveled; and T6 – initially the area was plowed/rotavated, then rotavated again after 5-7 days followed by direct seeding using a designed seeder then finally leveled. Treatments 2 and 6 were sprayed with herbicides 10-15 and 25-30 days after crop emergence.
On the growth performance of NSIC Rc23, the mean plant height at harvest, number of tillers, productive tillers, straw weight and weed density did not differ significantly at different modes of tillage and weed control. The mean plant height at harvest, tiller count, productive tillers and straw weight were 124.8 cm, 3, 91.21% and 206.0 grams, respectively. The highest yield of 3.7 tons per hectare is realized in an area that was initially plowed/rotavated, then rotavated again after 5-7 days followed by direct seeding using a furrower-seeder then finally leveled and with weed control using herbicides. This mode of crop establishment also gave the highest net return of 1.33 pesos per peso investment. The hand-tractor mounted furrower and seeder that were designed and tested gave a satisfactory performance for aerobic rice establishment in an upland ecosystem.
Keywords: Tillage, Weed Control, Upland Rice Ecosystem, Weed Density
