Effect of Integrated Weed Management Practices on Weed Dynamics and Performance of Maize Crop

Abstract

Background: Maize is the third most important cereal in India after rice and wheat which contributes nearly 9% in national food basket. Weed infestation is a major problem in maize, primarily at initial growth stages and due to wider spacing, hence weed control is essential to reduce the competition with maize crop. In maize row to row spacing is more so maximum number of weeds appears and compete with main crop. Methods: A field experiment was conducted in the University Agricultural Farm under the Department of Agronomy in kharif 2019. The soil of the experimental field was sandy loam in texture having pH 6.87 and electrical conductivity 0.32 mmhos/cm. The experiment was comprised of eight treatments and laid out in randomized block design with three replications T0 (Control), T1 (Hand weeding at 20 DAS, 40 DAS), T2 (Atrazine 1 kg/ha after 3 days of sowing), T3 (Metribuzin 1 kg/ha after 3 days of sowing), T4 (Alachlor 1.5 kg/ha after 3 days of sowing), T5 (Atrazine + hand weeding 1 kg/ha (after 3 days and 30 days after sowing), T6 (Metribuzin + hand weeding 1 kg/ha (after 3 days and 30 days after sowing), T7 (Alachlor + hand weeding 1.5 kg/ha (after 3 days and 30 days after sowing). The texture of the experimental field soil was sandy loam having pH-6.87, EC-0.32 mmhos/cm. Result: The weed species recorded at the experimental site were mainly comprised with grasses, sedges and broadleaf weeds. The dominant weed species infested in the experimental field were: Cynodon dactylon (doob grass), Cyperus rotundus, Amaranthus viridis, Anagallis arvensis, Argemone mexicana, Chenopodium album, Parthenium hysterophorus and Trianthema prolacastrum. Significant reduction in the weed density was recorded in manual weeding. The highest plant height, stem girth, number of leaves, flag leaf length, chlorophyll content, leaf area index, grain yield and stover yield was recorded highest with hand weeding which was followed by T7 (Alachlor + hand weeding 1.5 kg/ha (after 3 days and 30 days after sowing).