Rice is a staple food for many and its production provides employment to many but its production is affected by challenges.
Rice production has over the years been confronted with challenges such as weeds. Weeds are a biological constraint to rice yields. Management of weeds can be classified into two ie the one in which no chemicals are used and the one in which little chemicals are used.
Non chemical control
The non chemical weed management starts with good land preparation, sorting of seed and use of improved seed. Non improved seed have weed seeds in them and if planted without sorting can transmit weeds in to the garden.
Use of sterile seed bed preparation. This is done by preparing the land and then after the first rains, weeds appear and these are cleared during the secondary tillage in preparation for planting.
Chemical control
This involves use of pre emergence and/ or post emergence herbicide. When using post emergence herbicides, spray when the weeds are still at their tender stage ie when weeds are at four or below leaf stage. When weeds exceed the four leaf stage, it is late to use post emergence herbicides.
