Bioefficacy of Broad-spectrum Herbicides for Weed Management in Chickpea (Cicer Arietinum L.) Under Western U.p.

Abstract

An experiment entitled “Bioefficacy of broad-spectrum herbicide for weed management in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under western U.P.” was conducted at Crop Research Center of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology, Meerut (U.P.) during rabi season of 2020-21. Experiment was laid out in randomized block design (RBD) with three replications. Twelve weed management treatments [1 hand weeding at 20 DAS, 2 hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS, Pendimethalin 30 EC @ 1.0 kg ha-1 PE, Imazethapyr 10% SL @ 1.0 kg ha-1 PoE at 25 DAS, Fenoxaprop-p-ethyl 9.3 EC @ 60 g ha-1 POE at 25 DAS, Pendimethalin 30 EC @ 1.0 kg ha-1 PE + one hand weeding at 30 DAS, Imazethapyr 10% SL @ 1.0 kg ha-1 PoE at 25 DAS + one hand weeding at 40 DAS, Fenoxaprop-p-ethyl 9.3 EC @ 60 g ha-1 POE at 25 DAS + one hand weeding at 40 DAS, Pendimethalin 30 EC @ 1.0 kg ha-1 PE + Imazethapyr 10% SL @ 1.0 kg ha-1 PoE at 25 DAS, Pendimethalin 30 EC @ 1.0 kg ha-1 PE + Fenoxaprop-p-ethyl 9.3 EC @ 60 g ha-1 POE at 25 DAS, Weed free and Weedy check (Control)] were used for the experimentation. Chickpea variety RVG-202 was sown on 1st November, 2020 and harvested on 28th March, 2021. Recommended package of practices except treatments were adopted during crop period. The soil of experimental site was sandy loam in texture, low in available nitrogen and organic carbon, medium in available phosphorus and potassium and slightly alkaline in reaction. Results of experimentation revealed that all weed control practices proved effective in controlling the weeds in chickpea and gave significantly higher grain yield over weedy check. Among the different herbicidal treatments, application of Pendimethalin 30 EC @ 1.0 kg ha-1 PE + Imazethapyr 10% SL @ 1.0 kg ha-1 at 25 DAS was most effective to control narrow, broad leaved and sedge weeds and resulted into higher value of weed control efficiency. Highest growth parameters (plant height, branches plant-1 and dry matter accumulation plant-1), yield attributes (pods plant-1, grains pod-1 and 100 seed weight) and yield of chickpea and nutrient uptake was noticed with weed free, which was found statistically at par with the application of Pendimethalin 30 EC @ 1.0 kg ha-1 PE + Imazethapyr 10% SL @ 1.0 kg ha-1 at 25 DAS. Among weed management treatments, Pendimethalin 30 EC @ 1.0 kg a.i. ha-1 + Imazethapyr 10% SL @ 1.0 kg ha-1 PoE at 25 DAS was found excellent in gross return, net return, and B: C ratio. The experiment needs to be repeated for one more year to draw valid inferences. Based on the results of experimentation, it can be concluded that application of Pendimethalin 30 EC @ 1.0 kg a.i. ha-1 + Imazethapyr 10% SL @ 1.0 kg ha-1 PoE at 25 DAS may be a better option for controlling weeds and achieving higher yields in chickpea crop.