Weed indices as influenced by different weed management practices in fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.)

Abstract

A field experiment conducted at Instructional farm, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, MPUAT, Udaipur during rabi 2016-17 and 2017-18 to study the effect of weed management practices on weed control and seed yield of fenugreek. The experiment consists of thirteen weed management treatments comprising imazethapyr (70 g ha-1, 70 g ha-1 fb hoeing at 40 DAS), imazethapye 50 g ha-1 at 2-4 leaf stage of weeds, imazethapyr + imazamox 50 and 60 g ha-1 at 2-4 leaf stage of weeds, pendimethalin 750 g ha-1 PE, oxyfluorfen (120, 150 g ha-1 and 120 g ha-1 fb hoeing at harvest, oxadiargyl (100 g ha-1 and 100 g ha-1 fb hoeing at 40 DAS) including weed free and weedy check in main plot treatments and levels of vermicompost, viz. control and 5 t ha-1 in sub plot treatments. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications. The soil of experimental field was clay loam in texture, slightly alkaline in reaction, medium in organic carbon, available nitrogen, available phosphorus and high in available potassium. Fenugreek variety RMT-305 was sown at 30 cm distance with 25 kg ha-1 seed rate and fertilize with recommended dose of fertilizers. Pre-emergence application of oxadiargyl 100 g ha-1 followed by hoeing at 40 DAS recorded significantly lower weed density (15.00 m-2) and weed dry matter (54.20 g m-2), higher weed control efficiency (86.29% ), crop resistance index (10.20), weed persistence index (1.79%) and lowest weed index (3.03% ). Also the same treatment recorded higher growth, yield attributes and seed yield (2820 kg ha-1) of fenugreek however this treatment was remained at par with weed free check.