Effect of integrated weed management on growth parameters and yield attributes of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted with ten treatments pendimethalin (PE) @1.0kg ha-1, isoproturon (POE) @1.20kg ha-1, pendimethalin (PE) @1.0kg ha-1 +hand weeding at 45 DAS, isoproturon (POE) @1.20kg ha-1 +hand weeding at 45 DAS, pendimethalin (PE) @1.0kg ha-1 +straw mulch @5t ha-1, isoproturon (POE) @1.20kg ha-1 +straw mulch @5tha-1, straw mulch @10tha-1 (3 DAS), two hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS, glyphosate @0.5 ml litre-1 of water at 20 and 40 DAS and weedy check respectively at Agronomy Research Farm, Narendra Deva University of Agriculture & Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya (U. P.), India, during rabi season of the year 2016-17. The crop was infested with the divergent type of weed flora e.g. Phalaris minor and Cynodon dactylon of grassy, Chenopodium album, Anagallis arvensis, Melilotus alba, Vicia hirsuta, Lathyrus aphaca and Rumex sp. of broad-leaved and Cyperus rotundus of sedges group. Weed density of the different weed species and total weeds affected significantly due to different weed management practices, two hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS fb pendimethalin (PE) @1.0kg ha-1 +straw mulch @5tha-1, and straw mulch @10 tha-1 (3 DAS), were found more effective in reducing the nutrient uptake by weeds and maximizing crop growth parameters resulted in higher yield attributes (siliquae plant-1, length of silique and seeds siliqua-1) and seed yield of mustard as compared to rest of the treatments.