EFFECT OF CROP ESTABLISHMENT METHODS AND WEED MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON PROTEIN CONTENT, NUTRIENT UPTAKE AND YIELD OF RICE (Oryza sativa L.)

A field experiment was conducted during two consecutiveKharif seasons of 2003 2004, to find out most suitableweed management practices for different crop establishmentmethods. Maximum loss of nutrients by weeds was recordedunder zero tillage followed by dry seeding under moistcondition while highest content of protein in grain and strawwas recorded under transplanting. Highest grain yield(54.72qha-1) was recorded under transplanting which was atpar with drum seeding (54.53 as q ha-1) during first yearand significantly superior over other methods during secondyear. Chemical + 2 hand weeding produced significantlyhigher grain yield (61.04 q ha-1 60.88 q ha-1) over otherweed management practices during first and second year,respectively.