Effect of irrigation level and weed management practices on wheat growth, yield and economics

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University (SDAU), Sardarkrushinagar, Gujarat during two consecutive winter (Rabi) seasons of the years 2014-15 and 2015-16. The experiment consisted of twenty-one treatments with three levels of irrigation (0.6, 0.8, 1.0 IW:CPE ratio) as main plot treatments and seven weed management practices as sub-plot treatments. A split-plot design with three replications was used. The crop irrigated at 1.0 IW: CPE recorded significantly higher growth parameters, yield attributes, grain and straw yield. Among weed management practices, hand weeding twice and metsulfuron-methyl 4 g/ha at 28 DAS recorded significantly higher yield attributes, grain and straw yield. Interaction between irrigation levels and weed control practices revealed that wheat irrigated at 1.0 IW: CPE in combinations with two hands weeding or metsulfuron-methyl 4 g/ha and clodinafop + metsulfuron-methyl (ready-mix) 60 g/ha produced significantly higher grain yield than other treatments. The economic analysis revealed that irrigation at 1.0 IW:CPE ratio recorded significantly higher net returns of ₹ 66188/ha and B:C 2.11. Among weed management treatment, metsulfuron-methyl 4 g/ha) PoE attained maximum net income of ₹ 34036/ha with B: C 2.16 and next best was clodinafop + metsulfuron-methyl (ready-mix) 60 g/ha which fetched next highest net income (₹ 30843/ha) and B:C (2.01).