G. Rama Prabavathi, K. Arivukkarasu, A. Sundari and P. Sivasakthivelan
Abstract
Rice is an important staple meal for millions of people in Asia. However, severe weed infestation might cause significant yield loss. This study investigated weed composition in rice based ecosystem during kharif season 2021. The diversity of weed species in the fields were evaluated by using 0.25 cm2 quadrate at randomly in ten different locations in each village, and the dominance, density, frequency and their related values were calculated. Among the weed species observed, the highest relative dominance, relative density, relative frequency and importance value index was observed with Cyperus rotundus which was followed by Leptochloa chinensis and Cyperus difformis in all the observed villages of rice fields. From the study, it could be concluded that special attention to manage Cyperus rotundus and other weed species are required using better weed management measures to reduce the yield losses in transplanted rice.