Effect of Rice Residue and Weed Management on Weed Dynamics and Performance of Late Sown Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.) in Western U.p.

Abstract

Wheat ((Triticum aestivum L.) is a major cereal crop, which plays a significant role in food and nutritional security of our country. Wheat is the second most important crop for food production, behind rice, with an area of 31.62 million hectares, a production of 109.52 million metric tonnes, and a productivity of 3.46 tonnes per hectare. Wheat is a good supplement for nutritional requirement of human body as it contains 9-10% protein and 60-80% carbohydrates. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of rice residue and weed management on weed dynamics and performance of late sown Wheat (T. aestivum L.) in western U.P. at CRC Chirodi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut (U.P.), during 2020-21 & 2021-22 . The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications. The experimental field was low in organic carbon, available Nitrogen, medium in available Phosphorus and Potassium. The experiment comprised of four treatments of rice residue management viz.; Residue Burning, Residue Removal, Residue treated with PUSA decomposer and Residue treated with Trichoderma and five treatment of weed management viz.; Two hand weeding at 25 & 45 DAS, Sulfosulfuron 75% WG @ 25 g a.i. ha-1, Fenoxaprop-p-ethyl 10% EC @ 0.1 kg a.i. ha-1 + Metsulfuron methyl 20%WP @ 4g a.i. ha-1 at 30 DAS and Brown manuring with 2,4-D S.S. 80% WP @ 0.8 kg a.i. ha-1fb Clodinafop Propargyl (15%WP) @ 60 g a.i. ha-1 .Wheat cultivar DBW 173 was used in a experiment under late sowing condition in western U.P. Result indicated that growth parameters viz.; plant height, number of tillers (pmrl) and dry matter accumulations, yield and yield attribute as well as soil properties were influenced significantly by rice residue management and weed management practices. Significantly higher growth, yield attributes and yield was recorded with the practice of residue treated with PUSA decomposer then residue removal, whereas it was statistically at par with Residue treated with Trichoderma and Residue Burning. Moreover, reduction in weed population and dry matter accumulation in weed was lowest with the Residue treated with PUSA decomposer and it was more economical due to higher gross returns and net returns, whereas the highest B:C ratio was calculated with residue burning but it is harmful to the environment and soil fertility. All weed management treatments gave significantly higher wheat yield as compared to weedy check. Among the weed management practices, Brown manuring fb Clodinafop Propargyl 15% WP recorded significantly higher yield attributes and yields as compared to Sulfosulfuron @ 25 g ha-1 and weedy check However two hand weeding and Fenoxaprop + Metsulfuron @ (100 g + 4 g ha-1) was statistically on par. Therefore, a combination of rice residue treated with PUSA decomposer and Brown manuring fb Clodinafop Propargyl (15% WP), may be recommended for better weed control, higher yield, productivity and net returns.