The moisture regimes and herbicides efficacy in improving productivity and profitability of maize-wheat cropping system

Abstract

Two factorial field experiments were conducted in Haryana in split plot arrangement during 2013-14 and 2014-15 to evaluate moisture regimes and weed control treatments efficacy to managing weeds and improve productivity and profitability in maize-wheat cropping system. Four moisture regimes in main plots were based on cumulative pan evaporation (CPE) at 80-, 120-, 160- and 200-mm CPE interval in maize and at 75, 100, 125 and 150 mm CPE interval in wheat. Weed management treatments included pre-emergence application (PE) of pendimethalin at 1000 g/ha, atrazine at 750 g/ha PE, post-emergence application (PoE) of tembotrione at 120 g/ha in maize and pendimethalin at 1500 g/ha PE, clodinafop + carfentrazone at 60 +20 g/ha PoE and pinoxaden + metsulfuron at 50 + 4 g/ha PoE in wheat, weed free and weedy check. Significantly higher system yield (10.02 and 10.21 Mg/ha) during both years (2013-14 and 2014-15) were recorded at 80 mm CPE interval in maize and CRI+75 mm CPE interval in wheat. The atrazine PE and tembotrione PoE in maize and herbicide mixture viz. clodinafop+ carfentrazone and pinoxaden + metsulfuron PoE in wheat were the most effective weed management treatments.