Surveys of Weed Management on Flooded Rice Yields in Southern Brazil

One of the main limiting factors for high yields of flooded rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the presence of weeds, especially herbicide-resistant weeds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of weed management practices adopted by flooded rice farmers in the State of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) to grain yield. For this purpose, 324 interview surveys were administered to farmers who supplied information about the history of weed management and yields. The answers to the survey indicated that weedy rice (Oryza sativa L.) and Echinochloa sp. were the most important weeds that occurred in flooded rice areas in RS. Advanced growth stage of weeds and inadequate environmental conditions such as air temperature and relative humidity were listed as the main reasons for the low weed control efficacy. Farmers achieved greater rice yields when adopted rice-soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] (9,140 kg ha−1 average yield) and herbicide site of action rotations (8,801 kg ha−1 average yield) along with tank-mixes (8,580 kg ha−1 average yield) as specific management practices for resistant weed control. The use of glyphosate with residual herbicides in tank-mix in rice spiking stage is the main factor related to greater yields. The postemergence applications and their relations with delaying of flooded rice is a factor that reduces rice yield when no spiking glyphosate applications was made. Identification of the most important weeds in terms of occurrence, as well as the knowledge of the main agronomic practices adopted by the farmers, are essential so that recommendations for integrated management practices can be adopted in an increasingly accurate and sustainable-flooded rice areas in Southern Brazil.