Bio-efficacy of promising herbicides alone and in combination against major weeds in soybean

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during rainy (Kharif) seasons of 2014 and 2015 at Agriculture Research Station, Kasbe Digraj, Sangli, Mahatma Phule Agricultural University, Maharashtra, India. The dominant broad-leaved weeds in the field were Commelina benghalensis, Acalypha indica, Digera arvensis, Parthenium hysterophorus, Amaranthus viridis and Euphorbia geniculata. Grassy weeds were Echinochloa colonum, Brachiaria reptans, Dinebra arabica, Digitaria longiflora and Cynadon dactylon and Cyperus rotundus as sedge. Results revealed that, pre-emergence application of Sulfentrazone + Clomazone @ 870 g a.i. ha-1 recorded significantly lower weed density and weed dry weight at 30 and 45 DAS during Kharif 2014 and 2015. Higher weed control efficiency was recorded with pre-emergence application of Sulfentrazone + Clomazone @ 870 g a.i. ha-1 at 30 and 45 DAS (86.19 and 82.32 % during Kharif 2014 and 88.92 and 85.24% during Kharif 2015, respectively). Pre-emergence application of Sulfentrazone + Clomazone @ 870 g a.i. ha-1 recorded significantly higher seed yield (1.75 & 1.80 t ha-1 during Kharif 2014 and 2015, respectively) and which was at a par with application of Imazethapyr @ 100 g a.i. ha-1 as post-emergence and twice hand weeded check with highest B:C ratio.