Abstract

In order to investigate the interrelationship between paddy yield, weeds, growth and yield components of rice, a field experiment was conducted in each of the wet seasons of 2012 and 2013 at Irrigation Research Stations of the Institute for Agricultural Research located at Bakolori Irrigation Scheme Talata Mafara, Zamfara State in the Sudan Savanna ecological zone of Nigeria(12^o 34’ N; 06^o 04’E). The treatment consisted of four (4) weed management practice (Oxadiazon at 1.0 kg a.i ha^-1 [pre-emergence], Orizo-plus [proponil 360 g/l + 2,4-D 200 g/l] at 2.8 kg a.i ha^-1[post emergence at 3 WAS], manual weeding [at 3 and 6 WAS] and weedy check [control]); three (3) each of seeding method (Drilling, Dibbling and Broadcast) and seed rate (40 kg ha^-1; 70 kg ha^-1; 100 kg ha^-1). The experiment was laid in a split plot design replicated three times. Weed management practice was assigned to the main plots while the combination of seeding method and seed rate to the subplots. Data were collected on plant height, leaf area, crop dry matter, tillering ability, crop growth rate, Harvest index (HI), Panicle length,  number of grains per panicle, 1000-grain weight and paddy yield. Crop dry matter exhibited maximum positive direct effect on paddy yield followed by 1000-grain weight, panicle length and number of tillers per square meter. There was positive and significant association between paddy yield and growth and yield attributes suggests  that,  priority  be  given to  these  traits  when  making  selection  for improvement.