Effect of Integrated weed management on growth, yield attributes and yield of green gram (Vigna radiata L.) in western U.P.

Abstract

A study entitled “Effect of Integrated weed management on growth, yield attributes and yield of green gram (Vigna radiata L.) in western U.P.” was carried out during kharif 2022, at CRC farm, SVPUAT campus, Meerut. The experimental field was uniform and leveled, sandy loam in texture, low in available nitrogen (200.7 kg ha-1), medium in available phosphorus (14.8 kg ha-1) and potassium (195.7 kg ha-1) with slightly alkaline in reaction (pH 7.7). The experiment was carried out in Randomized Block Design with three replications and 10 treatments. The treatments comprised of Control (Weedy check) T1, Weed free T2, one hand weeding 20 DAS T3, two hand weeding 20 and 40 DAS T4, Propoxymethyl @ 135 a.i/ha Post emergence at 15 DAS T5, Propoxymethyl @ 135 a.i/ha + One hand weeding 40 DAS T6, Pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg a.i/ha Pre emergence T7, Pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg a.i/ha Pre emergence + One hand weeding at 40 DAS T8, Imazethapyr @ 50g a.i./ha Post emergence at 20 DAS T9 and Pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg a.i/ha Pre emergence + Imazethapyr @ 50 g a.i/ha Post emergence T10. Treatments effects were evaluated in terms of weed dynamics growth and yield of green gram. The predominant weed flora observed in the experimental plot were Echinochloa colonum (L.) and Cynodon dactylon (L.) among the grassy weeds, Celosia argentina (L.), Parthenium hysterophorus (L.) and Amaranthus virdis (L.) among broad leaved weeds and Cyperus rotundus among the sedge. The results revealed that the maximum weed control efficiency at harvest in and Pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg a.i/ha Pre emergence + Imazethapyr @ 50 g a.i/ha Post emergence T10 was found at par with Pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg a.i/ha Pre emergence + One hand weeding at 40 DAS T8 and significantly higher than the rest of treatments. The results also revealed that among the different integrated weed management treatments the highest number of grains per pod (7.4 pod-1) was obtained under weed free treatment at par (7.0 pod-1) with the application of Pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg a.i/ha Pre emergence + Imazethapyr @ 50 g a.i/ha Post emergence T10 which were at par (6.9 pod-1) with the application of Pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg a.i/ha Pre emergence + One hand weeding at 40 DAS T8. The highest total NPK content and uptake by grain and straw found with weed free treatment at par with the application of Pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg a.i/ha Pre emergence + Imazethapyr @ 50 g a.i/ha Post emergence T10 was at par with Pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg a.i/ha Pre emergence + One hand weeding at 40 DAS T8. The results revealed that the highest net monetary return (₹ 91250 ha-1) and B: C ratio (2.72) among all the treatments was obtained with weed free treatment while among herbicides treatments the highest net monetary return (₹ 92706 ha-1) and B:C ratio (3,14) was obtained with Pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg a.i/ha Pre emergence + One hand weeding at 40 DAS T8 followed by Propoxymethyl @ 135 a.i/ha + One hand weeding 40 DAS T6. On the basis of one year experiment it can be concluded that the Pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg a.i/ha Pre emergence + Imazethapyr @ 50 g a.i/ha Post emergence T10 was found better for higher productivity and profitability of green gram crop due to non availability of laborers.