Abstract: Field experiment was conducted at Rice Research Station, Moncompu during kharif 2012 to study the effect of different stand establishment techniques on yield and economics of rice cultivation in Kuttanad. The experiment was laid out in RBD replicated four times with five treatments in plots of 60 m2. Mechanized transplanting @ 22x 14 cm with early post emergence application of pyrazosulfuron ethyl 10 % WP @20 g ai ha-1 on seven DAT (days after transplanting) followed by hand weeding at 40 DAT significantly influenced the growth and yield attributes and recorded higher grain yield (5350 kg ha-1), straw yield (9140 kg ha-1), gross returns (100090 Rs ha-1), net returns (73303 Rs ha-1) and B: C ratio (3.74). Among the direct seeding techniques, drum seeding with early post emergence application of pyrazosulfuron ethyl 10 % WP @ 20 g ai ha-1 on seven DAS (days after sowing) followed by hand weeding at 40 DAS recorded higher gross returns, net returns and B: C ratio. The lowest grain yield (4566 kg ha-1), gross returns (86127 Rs ha-1) , net returns (56777 Rs ha-1) were recorded in broad casting of pre-germinated weeds with early post emergence application of pyrazosulfuron ethyl 10 % WP @ 20 g ai ha-1 on seven DAS followed by hand weeding at 40 DAS. The dry weight of weeds were found to be less in treatments with post emergence application of pyrazosulfuron ethyl 10 % WP @ 20 g ai ha-1 followed by hand weeding at 40 DAS/DAT than conoweeding at 15, 30 and 40 DAT. Conoweeding alone failed to control weeds effectively, but it influences the crop growth and yield by stimulating aeration and root growth.