Poor agronomic practices coupled with herbicide mismanagement influence crop
performance, yield, weed infestation and environmental hazards. Thus, field
experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of spacing and reduced
levels of butachlor on weed control and yield of NERICA 1 rice (Oryza sativa
L. x Oryza glaberrima L). The experiments were conducted in the 2011 rainy
season at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Department of Crop Production
and Horticulture, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, and Lake
Gerio, Yola in the 2012 dry season. Yola is located between latitude 9o14? N
and longitude 12o28? E in the Northern Guinea Savanna ecological zone of
Nigeria. Treatments consisted of four spacings (20 cm x 20 cm, etc.) and four
butachlor levels (3, 2, 1, and 0 kg ha-1 a.i.). The experiments were laid out
in a split-plot design with spacings assigned to the main plot and butachlor
levels assigned to the sub-plot and were replicated three times. Data were
taken on percentage establishment, number of leaves per plant, general weed
cover, panicle length and grain yield per hectare. Data generated were
subjected to analysis of variance. Means showing a significant F-test were
separated using LSD. Results obtained showed that butachlor at 1 kg ha-1 and
14 cm x 14 cm spacing gave the highest grain yield of 1441 kg ha-1 and
maximum weed control. They are, therefore, recommended for adoption by
farmers in Yola and similar environments.
Diversity, Genetic Erosion and Participatory Evaluation of Rice (Oryza sativa L. and Oryza glaberrima Steud) Varieties in Benin
