Effect of Different Weed Management Practices on Weed Dynamics, Productivity and Farm Profitability of Cluster Bean

Abstract

The present study was conducted in kharif seasons of 2015, 2016 and 2017 at experimental farm of Rajasthan Agricultural Research Institute, Durgapura, Jaipur (Rajasthan) to study efficacy of different weed management practices in clusterbean. Three years result shows that compared to weedy check (6.82 m-2) application of Pendimethalin @ 0.75 kg a.i. ha-1 as PE fb one hand weeding recorded lowest weed density (3.58 m-2). Among herbicidal treatments, Pendimethalin @ 0.75kg a.i/ha as PE fb one hand weeding at 25 DAS (83.7%) and Pendimethalin @ 0.75 kg a.i./ha as PE+ Imazathapyr+ Imazamox @ 40g a.i./ha PoE (74.0%) recorded highest weed control efficiency. Likewise, application of Pendimethalin @ 0.75kg a.i/ha as PE fb one hand weeding at 25 DAS and Pendimethalin 0.75kg/ha at PE fb Imazathapyr + Imazamox @ 40g a.i. ha-1 recorded significantly higher seed (1136 kg ha-1 and 1009 kg ha-1), haulm (3304 kg ha-1 and 2943 kg ha-1) and biological yield (4440 kg ha-1 and 3953 kg ha-1), respectively over other herbicidal treatments. Economic evaluation indicated that application of Pendimethalin @ 0.75kg a.i/ha as PE fb one hand weeding at 25 and which was followed by with Pendimethalin @ 0.75 kg a.i./ha as PE+ Imazathapyr+ Imazamox@ 40g a.i./ha recorded, gross return (INR 55352 ha-1 and INR 49189 ha-1) net returns (INR 38852 ha-1 and INR 34289 ha-1) and B:C ratio (2.35 and 2.20), respectively. Whereas, minimum cost of cultivation (INR 10000 ha-1) and gross returns (INR 25632 ha-1), net returns (INR 15632 ha-1) and B:C ratio (1.56) were recorded under weed check. So looking to the laborious pressure of hand weeding, cost effectiveness ease of application of chemical herbicides, application of Pendimethalin 0.75 kg ha-1 fb one hand weeding can be an effective weed control option in cluster bean crop with higher seed and haulm yield under Semi-arid and Arid regions of Rajasthan.