# How Direct Seeded Rice Farmers Can Eliminate Motha Grass and Protect Crop Yields

> Motha grass poses a severe threat to Direct Seeded Rice crops by stealing nutrients. Agricultural experts recommend a combination of chemical sprays, manual weeding, and summer plowing to eradicate underground tubers.

**Type:** article · **Category:** India · **Published:** 2026-08-10 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/national/sidhi-buvai-vale-dhana-ke-kheta-men-motha-ghasa-ka-ataika-janie-kharapatavara-ki-ganthon-ko-jara-se-khatma-karane-ka-tarika-15620 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Paddy Farming, Motha Grass, DSR Rice, Weed Control, Agricultural Advice, Organic Farming

Farmers adopting Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) technology are facing a major challenge in the form of Motha grass. Known as a silent killer in agricultural fields, this aggressive weed rapidly consumes essential nutrients from the soil, causing paddy plants to weaken, dry up, and drastically reduce overall crop yield.

## Chemical Treatments for Standing Paddy Crops
According to agricultural advisor Chandrabhashan Pandey, chemical methods alone are insufficient to combat Motha grass, making an integrated weed management strategy vital. In standing crops, spraying Halosulfuron Methyl 75% WG yields effective results. To ensure maximum efficiency, the field must retain light soil moisture during application, allowing the chemical solution to penetrate deep down to the roots.

## Tackling Underground Tubers to Stop Regrowth
The primary reason Motha grass is difficult to eradicate lies in its underground tubers. Simply cutting or removing the top foliage leaves these tubers intact beneath the soil, triggering rapid regrowth. Chandrabhashan Pandey highlights that spraying Glyphosate in empty fields after harvest is an effective solution, as the chemical moves down into the root system to completely destroy hidden tubers.

## Mechanical and Organic Control Methods
Agricultural advisor Avneesh Patel emphasizes that routine weeding and hoeing disrupt the growth cycle of this invasive weed. Using a khurpi or hand trowel helps uproot the underground tubers directly, significantly reducing the likelihood of regrowth, making it an ideal approach for organic farming. Additionally, deep summer plowing exposes hidden subterranean tubers to intense heat and direct sunlight, drying them out and permanently neutralizing them.

## What this means for you
**For Farmers:** Adopting these integrated weed control practices helps DSR rice growers protect their crop yields and minimize nutrient loss caused by invasive weeds.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Why is Motha grass called a silent killer in DSR paddy fields?
It spreads rapidly and absorbs key soil nutrients, causing paddy plants to dry up and significantly reducing overall crop yields.

### 2. Which chemical is effective against Motha grass in standing crops?
Spraying Halosulfuron Methyl 75% WG when there is light moisture in the field provides effective control in standing crops.

### 3. Why does Motha grass keep regrowing after being cut?
Its strength lies in underground tubers that remain alive even if the top foliage is removed, leading to rapid regrowth.

### 4. How can organic farmers control Motha grass without chemicals?
Organic farmers can manually uproot tubers using a trowel and practice deep summer plowing to let sunlight dry out the underground bulbs.

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