Effect of Integrated weed management practices on performance of Green gram (Vigna radiata L.) and associated weeds

Abstract

A study entitled “Effect of integrated weed management on performance of Greengram (Vigna radiate L.) and associated weeds” was carried out during kharif 2021, 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, Quizalofop-ethyl 50 g a.i./ha Post emergence (20 DAS) T5, Quizalofop-ethyl 50 g a.i./ha Post emergence + one hand weeding 40 DAS T6, Imazethapyr 50 g a.i./ha Post emergence (20 DAS) T7, Imazethapyr 50 g a.i./ha 20 DAS + one hand weeding 40 DAS T8, Pendimethalin 1 kg a.i./ha Pre emergence T9 and Pendimethalin 1 kg a.i./ha Pre emergence + Imazethapyr 50 g a.i./ha 20 DAS + one hand weeding 40 DAS T10. Treatments effects were evaluated in terms of weed dynamics growth and yield of chickpea. 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 kg a.i./ha Pre emergence + Imazethapyr 50 g a.i./ha 20 DAS + one hand weeding 40 DAS T10 was found at par with Imazethapyr 50 g a.i./ha 20 DAS + one hand weeding 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 grain yield (4.1 g plant-1) was obtained under weed free treatment at par (3.9 g plant-1) with the application of Pendimethalin 1 kg a.i./ha Pre emergence + Imazethapyr 50 g a.i./ha 20 DAS + one hand weeding 40 DAS T10 which were at par (3.6 g plant-1) with the application of Imazethapyr 50 g a.i./ha 20 DAS + one hand weeding 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 kg a.i./ha Pre emergence + Imazethapyr 50 g a.i./ha 20 DAS + one hand weeding 40 DAS T10 was at par with Imazethapyr 50 g a.i./ha 20 DAS + one hand weeding 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 kg a.i./ha Pre emergence + Imazethapyr 50 g a.i./ha 20 DAS + one hand weeding 40 DAS T10 which was followed by Imazethapyr 50 g a.i./ha 20 DAS + one hand weeding 40 DAS T8. On the basis of one year experiment it can be concluded that the Pendimethalin 1 kg a.i./ha Pre emergence + Imazethapyr 50 g a.i./ha 20 DAS + one hand weeding 40 DAS T10 was found better for higher productivity and profitability of greengram crop due to non availability of laborers.