Abstract

Background  Herbicide exposure affects the agro-histological characteristics and seed production of barnyardgrass in lowland rice fields.

Objective  This study aimed to assess the impact of the 2,4-D dimethylamine on the agro-histological and seed production of barnyardgrass and its effects on lowland rice plants.

Methods  Barnyardgrass seeds were collected from lowland rice fields in nine sub-districts of Serdang Bedagai District, Indonesia. The study was conducted in farmer fields in Medan Selayang, Indonesia, from August to December 2022. The study used a randomized block design with a single factor, 40 populations of barnyardgrass sprayed the 2,4-D dimethylamine at 1.5 fold of the recommended dose (1,080 g ai ha^-1) with three replications.

Results  The increase in tissue size of the upper epidermis, mesophyll, and lower epidermis can be used as an indicator of the effect of higher doses of 2,4-D dimethylamine. The herbicide 2,4-D dimethylamine at a dose of 1.5 fold caused an increase in the seeds produced of barnyardgrass biotypes up to 8.20 fold and lowland rice yield until 5.98 tons ha^-1.

Conclusions  The herbicide remained safe for the growth and yield of lowland rice and enlarge the agro-histological tissues of barnyardgrass.

2,4-D Dimethylamine; Agronomy; Barnyardgrass; Distribution; Histological