Effect of different fertiliser levels and herbicide treatments on weeds and wheat

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during (winter) Rabi seasons of 2018–19 and 2019–20 at College of Agriculture, Jodhpur, Rajasthan with an objective to assess the effect of three fertiliser levels and seven weed management treatments on weeds and wheat to maximise productivity and profitability of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) by effective and economical weed management. The total weed density was not influenced by increase in fertiliser rate. Significantly minimum weed biomass was recorded with the application of 75% of recommended dose of fertilisers (RDF) (90–30 kg N-P/ha). The 100% RDF (120-40 kg N-P/ha) application recorded significantly higher weed biomass, wheat growth indices (wheat growth rate, leaf area index net assimilation rate), grain, straw and biological yield than75% RDF and was at par with 125% RDF (150-50 kg N-P/ha). The post-emergence application (PoE) of clodinafop-propargyl 15% + metsulfuron-methyl 1% (ready-mix) 64 g/ha and sulfosulfuron 75% + metsulfuron-methyl 5% (ready-mix) 32 g/ha resulted in higher weed control efficiency, lower weed index with higher value of crop resistance index (CRI) and herbicide efficiency index (HEI). The use of 100% RDF with clodinafop-propargyl + metsulfuron-ethyl (ready-mix) 64 g/ha PoE recorded higher net returns and maximum B:C ratio.