How to control weeds in direct seeded rice (DSR)?

Weeds are the single biggest challenge in DSR because, unlike transplanted rice, there is no standing water early on to suppress them, and grasses like Echinochloa (sawan, swank), sedges and broadleaf weeds all come up with the crop. A strong herbicide plan is essential. Apply a pre-emergence herbicide such as pendimethalin within 1 to 3 days of sowing on a moist field, before weeds emerge. Then plan an early post-emergence spray at about 15 to 25 days using a product recommended for DSR that matches your weed mix, such as bispyribac-sodium for a broad spectrum, or specific grass and sedge killers. A second post-emergence spray or one manual weeding is often still needed. Cultural steps help a lot: a level field for even moisture, the stale seedbed technique (let a weed flush germinate, kill it, then sow), correct seed rate for a dense stand, and timely light irrigations rather than letting the field dry and crack. Rotate herbicide modes to avoid resistance in Echinochloa. Use only herbicides recommended for DSR, follow the label dose and timing, and confirm with your KVK, because timing is very strict and a late or wrong spray can fail or harm the crop.