Eleocharis kuroguwai Control Systems and Their Effects on Tuber Formation in Directly Seeded Paddy Fields

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the ecology of weed occurrence and to establish an economical paddy field weed control system for direct-seeded rice on water. The main problem weed among annual and perennial weeds was Eleocharis kuroguwai. The control effect of E. kuroguwai was low by the application of azimsulfuron + carfentrazone-ethyl + pyriminobacmethyl at the early stages of rice in directly seeded paddy fields, but most annual weeds including Echinochloa crus-galli were controlled. Also, the additional application of pyrazosulfuron-ethyl + thiobencarb GR at 20 days after first treatment or of bentazone SL at 43 days after the first treatment effectively controlled E. kuroguwai. Tuber formation of E. kuroguwai was inhibited by the additional application of pyrazosulfuron-ethyl + thiobencarb by 84%, but the dormancy rate of old tubers of E. kuroguwai under the soil was higher than that of E. kuroguwai tubers following single application of azimsulfuron + carfentrazone-ethyl + pyriminobac-methyl at the early stages of rice. Tuber formation was inhibited by the additional application of bentazone by approximately 87%, and the old tuber dormancy rate was low in the bentazone treatment. High amounts of old dormant tubers of E. kuroguwai were found in the weedy plots.