Herbicides combination for Control of Different Weed Flora in Maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted in maize during kharif season 20 13 on sandy loam soil at Crop Research Centre, Chirauri of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology, Meerut (U.P.).The experiment was conducted in RB.D with three replications comprising eleven treatments of weed management (weedy, weed free, Alachlor@ 1500 and 1000 g a.i. ha-1 , Atrazine@ 1000 g a.i. ha-1 , Metribuzin@ 750 and 250 g a.i. ha-1 , Alachlor + Metribuzin@ 750 + 375 g a.i. ha·I, Atrazine + Pendimethalin@ 750 + 500 g a.i. ha"1 , Atrazine +2, 4-D @ 500 + 500 g a.i. ha"1 and Sesbania (BC) + 2, 4-D @ 500 g a.i. ha-1 ). The results indicated that chemical methods of weed control significantly reduced the weed population and their dry wei&ht effectively over weedy check. The tallest plants, maximum number of grains cob-1 , highest crop dry matter accumulation, weed control efficiency, nutrient uptake by crop and highest grain yield (49.3 q ha-1 ) were recorded with the application of Atrazine + Pendimethalin @ 750 + 500 g a.i. ha"1 and established its superiority over rest of the herbicides. Similarly, this treatment also resulted into higher gross return, net return and B: C ratio. However, the total nitrogen and potassium uptake by maize crops was also highest under this treatment as 106.03 and 109.02 kg ha"1 respectively where as the phosphorus uptake was highest (30. 78 kg ha-1 ) with Atrazine @ 1000 g a.i. ha"1• These values were very close to weed free treatment. The per cent increase in grains and stover yield was to the tune of 107.14 and 57.26 as compared to weedy check.