Herbicide adoption pattern in rice and wheat among Haryana farmers

A systematic study on herbicide adoption by farmers in rice and wheat growing areas of Haryana conducted during 2008–2009, revealed that in Sirsa and Fatehabad districts of state, 95% farmers applied herbicide to control weeds in transplanted rice whereas in north-eastern Haryana, all farmers applied herbicides in rice crop. In Sirsa and Fatehabad districts, EC formulation of butachlor was the choice of 45% farmers followed by anilofos (26%), pretilachlor (12%) and oxadiargyl (8%). In Karnal, Kurukshetra, Ambala and Kaithal districts, pretilachlor was the first choice of 42% farmers followed by butachlor (24%) None of the farmer used anilofos. Even 11% farmers used pyrazosulfuron not approved by CCS HAU, Hisar for effective weed control. Twenty two (22) per cent farmers also applied post-emergence herbicide bispyribac- sodium in addition to pre-emergence herbicide because of poor control given by pre-emergence herbicides. In all 50–60% farmers applied herbicides timely (3 DAT). In Sirsa and Fatehabad, splash method of herbicide application is most popular used by 54% farmers where as, in north-eastern Haryana mixing of herbicide with DAP at 3–7 DAT, is most popular method used by 61% farmers. None of farmer in northeastern districts used sand mix application of herbicide in rice which was the only method approved by CCSHAU, whereas in Sirsa and Fatehabad, only 8% farmers used this technology. In wheat, 94 -96% farmers of state used herbicide to control P minor and other weeds. In Hisar, sulfosulfuron was the choice of majority of farmers (56%) followed by clodinafop (28%) where as in Kurukshetra district 44 % farmers used sulfosulfuron + metsulfuron (RM), 14% meso+iodosulfuron (Atlantis) and 16% used various brands of sulfosulfuron and only 20% used clodinafop. None of farmer used fenoxaprop and only 4% farmers of Hisar used isoproturon. In Kurukshetra, 66% farmers used flat fan nozzle but in Hisar majority of farmers (52%) used hollow cone nozzle which is the main reason for poor efficacy of herbicides at farmer's fields. Eighty six farmers in Kurukshetra used recommended brands of sulfosulfuron+ metsulfuron (RM) as against 25% of sulfosulfuron.