Integrated Weed Management in Rice: Practical Strategies for Enhancing Yield and Production Sustainability in Iranian Paddy Fields

Document Type : Review Article

Authors
behrouz khalil Tahmasebi 1
Rahman khakzad 2
mohammad Roozkhosh 3
1 1South of Kerman Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Jiroft, Iran,
2 3Department of Agrotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Iran
3 Department of Agrotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran
10.22034/bsr.2026.563581.1006
Abstract
Weeds are the most significant constraint on rice production in Iran, capable of causing yield losses of up to 90% under severe infestation. while herbicide application remains the predominant control method, its indiscriminate and repeated use has led to herbicide resistance in key species such as Echinochloa crus-galli and Cyperus spp. This practice has also resulted in surface water pollution, increased production costs, and environmental degradation. This article presents integrated weed management (IWM) as a sustainable, economical, and environmentally sound alternative for farmers. The IWM framework is built on five practical pillars: management of the soil seed bank through false seedbed preparation, deep plowing, and rice straw mulching; cultivation of competitive rice varieties with strong vigor and allopathic potential; increased planting density and optimized square planting patterns for rapid canopy closure; smart water management via alternate wetting and drying (AWD) irrigation to reduce water use by 20–30%; and implementation of a structured five-year herbicide rotation program incorporating varied modes of action to delay resistance evolution. The integrated application of these strategies reduces reliance on herbicides, increases yield, protects environmental health, improves farmer profitability, and ensures the long-term sustainability of rice production systems.
Keywords
Tillage
No-till farming
Competition
Integrated management
Transplanting
Subjects
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Biospeices Research
Volume 1, Issue 1
Winter 2026
Pages 57-69

  • Receive Date 03 December 2025
  • Revise Date 01 January 2026
  • Accept Date 30 January 2026
  • First Publish Date 01 February 2026
  • Publish Date 01 February 2026