Survey of rice weed management and public and private consultant characteristics in Southern Brazil

Abstract

AbstractIdentification of common weeds is fundamental in determining adequate recommendations for management practices. The aim of this study was to identify the patterns of weed management adopted by rice farmers and the perspectives of consultants who work in flooded rice areas in Rio Grande do Sul (RS) State, Brazil. Fifty-three public and 50 private consultants who worked with rice in RS in 2017 and 2018 were interviewed. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics. Both weedy rice and Echinochloa sp. occurred and escaped more often from chemical control because they remained in the field until harvest in 59% of the area. According to consultants, the main reasons for reduced weed control were related to herbicide resistance and late herbicide application. Fifty-six percent of farmers used imidazolinone herbicides at rates that were greater than those indicated on the label for POST application. The consultants’ main challenges were weed escapes, resistance management, and guidelines on herbicide rates. Survey results show that the use of herbicide rates above label recommendations and consultants’ work on control of weed escapes are directly related to the high occurrence of herbicide resistance.