Effect of Integrated Weed Management on Performance of Chickpea (Cicer Arietinum L.) and Associated Weeds

Abstract

A study entitled “Effect of integrated weed management on performance of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and associated weeds” was carried out during 2020-21, at CRC farm, SVPUAT campus, Meerut. The experimental field was uniform and leveled, sandy loam in texture, low in available nitrogen (182.4 kg ha-1), medium in available phosphorus (15.5 kg ha-1) and potassium (193.2 kg ha-1) with slightly alkaline in reaction (pH 7.82). 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 25 DAS T3, two hand weeding 25 and 50 DAS T4, Oxyfluorfen 100 g a.i./ha Pre emergence T5, Oxyfluorfen 100 g a.i./ha Pre emergence + one hand weeding 25 DAS T6, Imazethapyr 50 g a.i./ha Post emergence (25 DAS) T7, Imazethapyr 50 g a.i./ha 25 DAS + one hand weeding 50 DAS T8, Oxyfluorfen 100 g a.i./ha Pre emergence + Imazethapyr 50 g a.i./ha 25 DAS T9 and Oxyfluorfen 100 g a.i./ha Pre emergence + Imazethapyr 50 g a.i./ha 25 DAS + one hand weeding 50 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 Avena ludoviciana and Phalaris minor among the grassy weeds, Anagallis arvensis, Chenopodium album and Melilotus indica among broad leaved weeds and Cyperus rotundus among the sedge. The results revealed that the maximum weed control efficiency at 60 and 90 DAS in Oxyfluorfen 100 g a.i./ha Pre emergence + Imazethapyr 50 g a.i./ha 25 DAS + one hand weeding 50 DAS T10 was found at par with Imazethapyr 50 g a.i./ha 25 DAS + one hand weeding 50 DAS T9 and significantly higher than the rest of treatments. The results also revealed that among the different integrated weed management treatments the highest grain yield (24.8 q ha-1) was obtained under weed free treatment followed by (23.7 q ha-1) with the application of Oxyfluorfen 100 g a.i./ha Pre emergence + Imazethapyr 50 g a.i./ha 25 DAS + one hand weeding 50 DAS T10 which were at par (22.6 q ha-1) with the application of Imazethapyr 50 g a.i./ha 25 DAS + one hand weeding 50 DAS. The highest total NPK content and uptake by grain and straw found with weed free treatment followed by Oxyfluorfen 100 g a.i./ha Pre emergence + Imazethapyr 50 g a.i./ha 25 DAS + one hand weeding 50 DAS was at par with Imazethapyr 50 g a.i./ha 25 DAS + one hand weeding 50 DAS T8. The results revealed that the highest net monetary return (₹ 103102 ha-1) and B: C ratio (2.67) among all the treatments was obtained with weed free treatment while among herbicides treatments the highest net monetary return (₹ 100102 ha-1) and B:C ratio (2.82) was obtained with Oxyfluorfen 100 g a.i./ha Pre emergence + Imazethapyr 50 g a.i./ha 25 DAS + one hand weeding 50 DAS which was found at par with Imazethapyr 50 g a.i./ha 25 DAS + one hand weeding 50 DAS. On the basis of one year experiment it can be concluded that the Oxyfluorfen 100 g a.i./ha Pre emergence + Imazethapyr 50 g a.i./ha 25 DAS + one hand weeding 50 DAS found better for higher productivity and profitability of chickpea crop due to non availability of laborers.