Effect of Different Weed Management Practices on Growth and Yield of Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.)

Abstract

As cabbage is cultivated with wide spacing, it is prone to profuse weed infestations, resulting in reduced crop yields and subsequent significant economic losses. A field experiment comparing different weed management treatments namely T1 (two hand weedings), T2 (paddy straw mulch), T3 (pre-emergent application of oxyfluorfen @ 1 kg a.i./ha), T4 (PE application of pendimethalin @ 1.5 kg a.i./ha), T5 (PE application of pendimethalin @ 1 kg a.i./ha + HW at 35 days after transplanting), T6 (PE application of oxyfluorfen @ 1 kg a.i./ha + HW at 35 DAT), T7 (weed-free) and T8 (weedy check) was conducted to evaluate their efficacy on growth, yield and economics of cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.). The results revealed that the maximum value of plant height, number of unwrapped leaves, fresh weight of heads, dry weight of wrapped leaves and yield per hectare was obtained in plots under treatment T7 (weed free). Similarly, in terms of weed parameters minimum weed count, weed dry weight, weed index and maximum weed control efficiency were observed in treatment T7 (weed free). Maximum net return and benefit: cost ratio was observed under the treatment T5 (PE application of pendimethalin @ 1 kg a.i./ha + one HW at 35 DAT), making it an economically practical option for controlling weeds in cabbage.