Effect of integrated weed management in okra

Abstract

Total weed population was significantly reduced under the application of various treatments of weed control at the stages of 20, 40, 60 days and harvest. At stage of 20 DAS, the lowest total weed population were noted in treatment T5 (grass mulch 5t/ha one week after germination). Maximum total weed population was recorded under T9 (Weedy check) treatment which was at par with T6 (One hoeing at 30 DAS), T7 (One H.W. at 30 DAS) and T8 (2 H.W. at 30 and 60 DAS) treatment. At stage of 40 DAS, minimum total weed population was recorded under T4 which was at par with withT3 (Oxyfluorfen @ 0.125 Kg/ha as PE + 1 H.W. at 30 DAS) and T8 (2 H.W. at 30 & 60 DAS) treatment.At stage of 60 DAS and harvest stage, all the weed control treatments significantly reduced total weed population over weedy check. Minimum total weed population was recorded under T8 (2 H.W. at 30 &60 DAS). At 30 days after sowing dry weight of different weeds was reduced significantly by 2 HW at 15 and 30 DAS, which was at par with T5. At 60 days after sowing stage (DAS), the minimum dry matter (2.58 g/m2) was also recorded under treatment 2 HW at 30 & 60 DAS, which resulted in significantly lower dry weight of weeds over rest of the all weed control treatments. In spite of controlling weeds effectively having highest weed control efficiency was recorded in treatment 2 HW at 15 and 30 (97.67%) DAS. Weedy check resulted in maximum weed index (38.50%), followed by pre-emergence application of oxyfluorfen @ 0.250 kg/ha (35.21%), while two hand weeding recorded no weed index (0.00%), followed by grass mulch 5t/ha one week after germination.