Legume Intercropping for Weed Control Efficiency in Kharif Maize (Zea mays L.) under Amritsar Conditions

Abstract

Background: Maize is referred to as the “Queen of Cereals” since it has highest genetic yield potential. So, Maize being a rainy season crop, suffers badly due to heavy weed infestation reducing the potential yield. Intercropping with legumes is the effective technique to control weed infestation. Therefore, this study is focused on to evaluate the legume intercropping for weed control efficiency in kharif maize (Zea mays L.) under Amritsar conditions. Methods: A field study was carried out to evaluate the effect of “Legume intercropping for weed control efficiency in kharif maize (Zea mays L.) under Amritsar conditions” at Student’s Research Farm, P.G. Department of Agriculture, Khalsa College Amritsar, during Kharif season 2021-2022. The experiment consists of six treatment combination which were tested in factorial randomized block design with three replications. The treatment consisted of T1 - sole maize, T2- paired row maize, T3- maize + green gram (1:1), T4- maize + green gram (2:2), T5- maize + black gram (1:1), T6- maize + black gram (2:2) and two weed management practices i.e. weedy check and pendimethalin at 0.75 kg ha-1 (pre-emergence). Result: The results indicated that maize + green gram (1:1) intercropping system registered considerably lowest weed density of both monocot and dicot weeds at 25 DAS (58.14 m2) and 50 DAS (61.72 m2) and also significantly lower weed dry matter at 25 DAS (2.06 q ha-1), 50 DAS (4.58 q ha-1), 75 DAS (5.88 q ha-1). Maize + green gram (1:1) treatment also recorded considerably highest weed control efficiency (17.57 %) at 25 DAS and (16.38%) at 50 DAS. The highest maize grain yield (38.85 q ha-1) was achieved in maize + green gram (1:1) followed by (37.68 q ha-1) maize + black gram (1:1) and (33.41 q ha-1) maize + green gram (2:2). Maize grain equivalent yield and benefit-cost ratio significantly superior in all the intercropping systems than pure stand yield of crop. The highest maize grain equivalent yield (66.78 q ha-1) and benefits: cost ratio (3.6) was obtained in maize + green gram (2:2) followed by (3.31) maize + black gram (2:2) and (2.5) maize + green gram (1:1). Pre-emergence application of pendimethalin at 0.75 kg ha-1 gave substantially lower weed density at25 DAS (56.05 m2), 50 DAS (57.97 m2) and weed dry matter at 25 DAS (2.16 q ha-1), 50 DAS (4.03 q ha-1) and 75 DAS (5.35 q ha-1) and significantly superior weed control efficiency at 25 DAS (30.97%) and 50 DAS (27.98 %) over weedy check. Significantly higher maize grain yield (36.94 q ha-1), legumes yield (8.87 q ha-1), maize grain equivalent yield (58.45 q ha-1) and benefits: cost ratio (3.19).