Effect of weed management and fertility levels on population and dry matter of weeds in summer okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench.] under North Gujarat conditions

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out during summer season of 2008 on a loamy sand soil at Regional Research Station, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, District: Banaskantha (Gujarat) to study the eight weed management practices i.e., Unweeded control (W0), Weed free (i.e., Hand Weeding at 20, 40 and 60 DAS) (W1), Hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS (W2), Interculturing at 20 and 40 DAS (W3), Pre-emergence application of Pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg a.i./ha (Blanket application) (W4), W4 + Interculturing at 20 DAS (W5), W4 + Interculturing at 40 DAS (W6) and W4 + Hand Weeding at 40 DAS (W7) along with two fertility levels i.e., 75% recommended dose of NPK (i.e., 112.5 - 37.5 - 37.5 NPK kg/ha) (F1) and 100% recommended dose of NPK (i.e., 150 – 50 - 50 NPK kg/ha) (F2) on okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench.] crop. Results shows that the weeds population at 20 and 40 DAS were found significantly lowest under treatment (W7) i.e., pre-emergence application of pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg a.i./ha (W4) + Hand Weeding at 40 DAS (3.20, 2.75, 2.99 and 5.07 per m2) and (W5) i.e., pre-emergence application of pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg a.i./ha (W4) + interculturing at 20 DAS (2.84, 2.72, 2.58 and 4.60 per m2), respectively. Besides providing weed free condition through the season Hand weeding at 20, 40 and 60 DAS was found more effective in recording the less dry weight of weeds (37.87 g/m2 and 230 kg ha-1) as well as higher weed control efficiency (82.04 and 77.03%). Hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS and pre-emergence application of pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg a.i. ha-1 + H.W. at 40 DAS were found at par with this respect.