​​Improved Herbicide Efficacy through Sole and Sequential Application of Herbicides for Higher Productivity of Urdbean (Vigna mungo) in Indian Semi-arid Tropics

Abstract

Background: Weeds are major factor that leads to increase crop-weed competition and adversely effects of on growth, quality and yield of urdbean during kharif season. In urdbean the critical period for crop weed competition was the first 25-30 days; yields can be reduced by 50-90%, if weeds were not controlled during this period. As a result, successful weed management strategies to achieve increased growth and yield. Due to the ease, lower cost, timeliness and success controlling weeds, the progressive transformation of agriculture involving intensive use of herbicides has gained traction in recent years. Methods: During kharif season 2019, a field experiment was undertaken at the Agricultural Research Station of Ummedganj, Kota, comprising ten weed management strategies, laid out in a randomised complete block design with three replications. Result: Two hand weedings at 20 and 40 DAS recorded significantly lower weeds dry matter, higher weed control efficacy, ultimately culminating in improved yield attributes and yield, compared to weedy check. This treatment was at par with pendimethalin 30% EC @ 1 kg a.i. ha-1 fb propaquizafop 2.5% w w-1 @ 33.3 g a.i. ha-1 + imazethapyr 3.75% w w-1 (pre mix) ME @ 50 g a.i. ha-1 at 20 DAS resulting in significantly higher pods plant-1 (13.67), seeds pod-1 (6.33), test weight (28.47 g), grain (827 kg ha-1), straw (1393 kg ha-1), biological (2221 kg ha-1) and harvest index (37.26%) of urdbean over the other chemical based treatment.