Impact of organic methods of nutrient and weed management on weeds nutrient uptake and maize productivity in sandy loam soils of Rajasthan, India

Abstract

An experiment was conducted during rainy (Kharif) season 2019 and 2020 at Instructional Farm, College of Agriculture, Sumerpur, Rajasthan to study the influence of organic methods of nutrient and weed management on weeds growth and nutrient uptake and maize (Zea mays L.) productivity. The experiment comprised of six weed management and five nutrient management treatments arranged in split-plot design with three replications. The stale seedbed + hoeing with power weeder at 20 days after seeding (DAS) + hoeing once at 40 DAS and stale seedbed + hoeing once at 20 DAS + application of 5 t/ha of straw mulch applied at 30 DAS recorded significantly lowest mean weed biomass at 30 DAS and at 50 DAS, respectively. They were found on par with weed free check at harvest in respect of recording mean minimum weed biomass and nutrient uptake by different categories of weeds, higher maize and nutrient uptake by maize on pooled basis. Amongst nutrient management treatments, mean minimum weed biomass and nutrient uptake, significantly higher maize yield, protein content, nutrient content and uptake by the maize was recorded with 75% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) using vermicompost (75% as basal + 25% as top dress at 30 DAS) + seed treatment with beejamurt + spray of 500 l/ha of jeevamurt twice (at sowing and 30 DAS). The similar trend was recorded in terms of yield and economics of maize. Next best was 75% RDN through vermicompost as basal + seed treatment with beejamurt + spray of 500 l/ha jeevamurt twice (at sowing and 30 DAS). The organic nutrient management treatments significantly increased the nutrient content in maize grain and stover, while weed management treatments have no significant effect.