Response of Weed Management Practices on Yield Loss, Soil Enzyme Activity and Microbial Populations in Maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

Background: Maize popularly known as “Queen of cereals”. Weeds resulted in the highest crop loss (33%), followed by pathogens (26%), insects (20%), storage pests (7%), rodents (6%) and others (8%) in India. Application of herbicides will affect various soil microbial processes and enzymatic activities in the soil, whose activity is very important for maintaining the soil fertility. Methods: The present field experiment was conducted during Rabi, 2017-18 and 2018-19 under irrigated conditions at wetland farm of S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati Andhra Pradesh, with ten treatments and three replications in a randomized block design. Result: Higher kernel and stover yield of maize was recorded with hand weeding twice at 15 and 30 DAS and the yield loss was comparatively lower with atrazine 1.0 kg ha-1as PE fb topramezone 30 g ha-1or tembotrione 120 g ha-1 as PoE or atrazine 1.0 kg ha-1as PE fb HW at 30 DAS, while these were lowest with weedy check. Soil microbial count and enzyme activity was statistically comparable in all the pre followed by post emergence herbicide treatments.