Effect of moisture conservation and weed control on pearlmillet (Pennisetum glaucum) under rainfed conditions

Abstract

A field experiment conducted during the rainy season of 1988 and 1989 showed that moisture conserva- tion practice suppressed the weed growth and improved the productivity and water-use efficiency of pearlmillet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br. emend. Stuntz.] only in scanty rainfall year of 1989. The maximum reduction in weed density and dry weight was attained with flat bed + straw mulch, but crop pro- ductivity and water-use efficiency were the highest with ridge and furrow + straw mulch. In 1988, net re- turnlha and net returntrupee were highest with flat bed. In 1989, although highest net returnha was re- corded with ridge and furrow, noneof the moisture-~onservation treatments proved economical in respect of net returnlrupee invested. Weeding caused remarkable reduction in weeds in both years, especially with hand-weeding. However, crop productivity and water-use efficiency were influenced favourably by weed- control measures only in 1988. The highest values of yield and water-use efficiency were associated with atrazine @ 0.50 kgha followed by hand-weeding. The highest net returnha and net returdrupee were re- corded with atrazine @ 0.50 kgha in both years except that none of the weed-control treatments proved eco- nomical in respect of net retum/rupee invested in 1989.