Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-t5pn6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-23T13:16:17.666Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Effects of different herbicides on the Azolla and blue—green algal biofertilization of rice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

A. L. Singh
Affiliation:
Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack 753006, Orissa, India
P. K. Singh
Affiliation:
Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack 753006, Orissa, India
P. L. Singh
Affiliation:
Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack 753006, Orissa, India

Summary

Pre-emergence herbicides applied at field recommended doses, 3 days after transplanting (DAT) rice plants, inhibited growth and N2-fixation of Azolla pinnata (Bangkok) and BGA (blue-green algae) inoculated 10 DAT. This inhibition was up to 15 DAT in Azolla and up to 20 DAT in BGA. Butachlor and Oxadiazon resulted in higher toxicity to Azolla and BGA than Benthiocarb and Pendimethalin. The application of 0·5 kg/ha active ingredient of 2,4-DNa did not inhibit growth of Azolla but inhibited BGA growth. However, 2,4-DEE, a post-emergence herbicide, applied 30 DAT showed inhibitory effects on the growth and N2-fixation of both Azolla and BGA. Inoculation of 2·0 t/ha of fresh Azolla 10 DAT produced maximum biomass within 20–25 days of herbicide treatments, depending upon the season. The inoculation of 10 kg/ha of a dry mixture of BGA 10 DAT could produce the maximum biomass 60 and 80 DAT in control and herbicide treated plots, respectively. The biomass and nitrogen produced by Azolla recorded at maximum mat formation were similar in both herbicide treated and untreated plots, but in BGA these were higher in controls than those of herbicide treated plots.

The use of Azolla and BGA biofertilizers along with herbicides increased the grain and straw yields, and panicle number and nitrogen uptake, by rice over no Azolla or BGA treatments. The Azolla and BGA treatments even without weeding increased rice yield up to that of herbicide and biofertilizer treatments.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1988

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ahmed, M. H. & Venkataraman, G. S. (1973). Tolerance of Aulosira ferlilissima to pesticides. Current Science 42, 108.Google Scholar
Becking, J. H. (1979). Environmental requirement of Azolla for use in tropical rice production. In Nitrogen and Rice, pp. 345373. Los Baños, Philippines: International Rice Research Institute.Google Scholar
Holst, R. W., Yopp, J. H. & Kapusta, G. (1982). Effect of several pesticides on the growth and nitrogen assimilation of the Azolla-Anabaena symbiosis. Weed Science 30, 5458.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jackson, M. L. (1967). Soil Chemical Analysis. New Delhi: Prentice Hall of India.Google Scholar
Lee, C. C. & Lin, C. J. (1981). The possibility of using Azolla as a source of nitrogen for rice in Taiwan. Soils and Fertilizers in Taiwan 1980–1981, pp. 3543.Google Scholar
Lumpkin, T. A. & Plucknett, D. L. (1980). Azolla: botany, physiology and use as a green manure. Economic Botany 34, 111153.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ngo, G. D. (1973). The effect of Azolla pinnata R. Br. on rice growth. Biotrop Report, 2nd Indonesian Weed Science Conference, Jogjakarta, 2–5 April 1973.Google Scholar
Nickell, L. G. (1961). Physiological studies with Azolla under aseptic conditions. II. Nutritional studies and the effects of chemical on growth. Phyton 17, 4954.Google Scholar
Roger, P. A. & Kulasooriya, S. A. (1980). Blue-Green Algae and Rice. Los Baños, Philippines: International Rice Research Institute.Google Scholar
Singh, A. L. & Singh, P. K. (1986 a). Comparative studies on different methods of Azolla utilization in rice culture. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 107, 273278.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Singh, A. L. & Singh, P. K. (1986 b). Comparative effects of Azolla and blue-green algae in combination with chemical N fertilizer on rice crop. Proceedings of the Indian Academy of Science (Plant Science) 96, 147152.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Singh, A. L. & Singh, P. K. (1987). Comparative study on Azolla and blue green algae dual culture with rice. Israel Journal of Botany 36, 5361.Google Scholar
Singh, P. K. & Mishra, S. P. (1982). Effect of herbicides on growth and N2-fixation of Azolla pinnata under field conditions. Journal of Biological Research 2, 9196.Google Scholar
Singh, P. K., Mishra, S. P. & Singh, A. L. (1984 a). Azolla biofertilization to increase rice production with emphasis on dual cropping. In Practical Application of Azolla for Rice Production (ed. Silver, W. S. and Schroder, E. C.), pp. 132142. The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff/W. Junk.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Singh, P. K., Patra, R. N. & Nayak, S. K. (1984 b). Sporocarp germination, cytology and mineral nutrition of Azolla species. In Practical Application of Azolla for Rice Production (ed. Silver, W. S. and Schroder, E. C.), pp. 5572. The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff/W. Junk.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Singh, P. K. & Singh, A. L. (1985). Comparative studies on Azolla and blue-green algal biofertilization to rice crop. In Advances in Applied Phycology, Proceedings of All India Applied Phycological Congress, 27–28 March 1983, (ed.Shukla, A. C. and Pandey, S. N.) pp. 334349. Kanpur, India: Christ Church College, International Society for Plant and Environment.Google Scholar
Smith, R. J. Jr, Flienchum, W. T. & Seaman, D. E. (1977). Weed control in U.S. Rice Production. USDA Agriculture Hand Book 497. Washington, D.C.: United States Department of Agriculture.Google Scholar
Talley, S. N., Talley, B. J. & Rains, D. W. (1977). Nitrogen fixation by Azolla in rice fields. In Genetic Engineering for Nitrogen Fixation (ed. Hallander, A.), pp. 259281. New York: Plenum Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Toia, R. E., Crist, D. K., Poole, R. E., Bent, P. E. & Peters, G. A. (1981). Effects of selected herbicides on physiology and composition of four Azolla species. Plant Physiology (Supplement) 67, 81 pp.Google Scholar