Effect of herbicides and their combinations on weeds, productivity and profitability of maize in rainfed sub-tropics of Jammu

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Advanced centre for rainfed agriculture, Rakh Dhiansar of Sher-e- Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu during the crop growing seasons of 2016 and 2017 to identify the best herbicide option for weed management in maize (Zea mayz L.). Fifteen treatments were tested in randomised block design replicated thrice. The post-emergence treatment (PoE) of tembotrione 100 g/ha + atrazine tank mix formulation 750 g/ha at 15–20 days after sowing (DAS) has recorded highest weed control efficiency (93.22 and 93.71% during 2016 and 2017, respectively) followed by tembotrione 100 g/ha + atrazine 500 g/ha at 15–20 days after sowing (DAS) and sequential application of atrazine 1000 g/ha 0–3 DAS fb tembotrione 100 g/ha 15–20 DAS. Higher maize grain yield was recorded (3.64 t/ha and 3.74 t/ha during 2016 and 2017, respectively) with weed free which was statically at par with tembotrione 100 g/ha + atrazine 500 g/ha at 15–20 DAS, tembotrione 100 g/ha + atrazine 750 g/ha at 15–20 DAS, tembotrione 100 g/ha + halosulfuron 67.5 g/ha at 15–20 DAS, tembotrione 100 g/ha+ halosulfuron 52.5 g/ha at 15–20 DAS, atrazine 1000 g/ha 0–3 DAS fb metribuzin 250 g/ha 15–20 DAS, atrazine 1000 g/ha 0–3 DAS fb tembotrione 100 g/ha 15–20. B: C ratio (3.11 and 3.12 in 2016 and 2017 respectively) was high with PoE application of tembotrione 100 g/ha + atrazine 500 g/ha.