Effects of Mixed Application of Wood Vinegar and Herbicides on Weed Control, Yield and Quality of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The effect of mixed treatments of wood vinegar and sulfonylurea-based herbicides on weed control, yield and yield components, and quality of rice was investigated. Two herbicides were tested namely: imazo-sulfuron-ethyl + thiobencarb [ethyl-1-(2-chloroimidazo[l ,2-a] pyridin-3-ylsulfonyl)-3-(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yl) urea + 5,-4-chlorobenzyl diethyl(thiocarbamate)], and bensulfuron- methyl + butachlor [methyl α - [(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2- ylcarbamoyl)sulfamoyl]-o-toluate + N-butoxymethyl- 2-chloro-2',6'-diethylacetanilide]. The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design with 3 replications and 5 treatments. Treatments used were recommended (RH: 100%) and half-recommended (HRH: 50%) application rates of each herbicide. Half-recommended application rates were combined with 1 mL wood vinegar 500 mL water -1 (500) and lmL wood vinegar 1000 mL water -1 (1000) wood vinegar. Plots for no herbicide treatments were also prepared and used as control. Results showed that wood vinegar significantly increased efficacy of HRH in bensulfuron-methyl + butachlor while high efficacy was already obtained in HRH treatment of imazosulfuron-ethyl + thiobencarb. Wood vinegar did not improve the efficacy of imazosulfuron-ethyl + thiobencarb but improved rice yield. Significantly similar rice yields were obtained in the HRH + 1000 WV and RH treatments of both herbicides. There were no significant variations in the yield components among the treatments; however, differences in yield can be attributed to the variations in the spikelet number and ripening ratio. Data on rice quality analysis did not show clear trend on the effects of the treatments on grain appearance and nutritional quality.