Persistence of Herbicides in Pearlmillet–Wheat Cropping System in Madhya Pradesh

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted for 6 years (2002–2008) on different tillage and weed control methods in pearlmillet under pearlmillet-wheat cropping system. The treatments comprised of five tillage practices and three weed control practices, viz. hand weeding, atrazine 0.5 kg/ha and weedy check applied to pearlmillet crop. Atrazine 0.5 kg/ha persisted in the soil up to 30 days after application and beyond that no residues were left in soil. Various tillage practices did not affect persistence of atrazine in the soil. In another study during (2008–2014), weed control measures, viz. atrazine 0.5 kg/ha, atrazine 0.5 kg/ha + FYM 10 t/ha, atrazine 0.5 kg/ha + one hand weeding, two hand weedings and weedy check in pearlmillet were followed in wheat crop with weed control treatments, viz. isoproturon 0.75 kg/ha, isoproturon 0.75 kg/ha + 2,4-D 0.5 kg/ha, isoproturon 0.75 kg/ha + hand weeding, 2 hand weedings and weedy check. Atrazine at 0.5 kg/ha applied alone or along with 10 t/ha FYM persisted in soil up to 45 days. Similarly, isoproturon applied at 0.75 kg/ha or isoproturon 0.75 kg/ha + 2,4-D 0.5 kg/ha persisted in soil up to 45 days and did not leave phytotoxic effect on pearlmillet and wheat crops. Results demonstrated that atrazine, isoproturon + 2,4-D may be safely used for weed management in these crops.