Effect of integrated weed management practices on winter (Rabi) season sorghum (Sorghum bicolor)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during rabi-2014,2015 and 2016 at Instructional farm, N. M College of Agriculture, N. A. U., Navsari, Gujarat. The study consisted of 12 treatments viz., Unweeded control, Weed free, Two hand weeding (HW) and interculturing (IC) at 20 & 40 DAS, Atrazine @ 0.5 kg ha-1 as pre-emergence (PE), Atrazine @ 0.5 kg ha-1 PE + One HW & IC at 20 DAS, Atrazine @ 0.5 kg ha-1 PE + One HW & IC at 20 DAS, Pendimethalin @ 0.5 kg ha-1 PE, Pendimethalin @ 0.5 kg ha-1 PE + One HW & IC at 20 DAS, Pendimethalin @ 0.5 kg ha-1 PE + 2, 4-D @ 0.5 kg ha-1 post emergence (PoE) at 20 DAS, Atrazine @ 0.5 kg ha-1 PE + Pendimethalin @ 0.25 kg ha-1 PE (Tank mixture), Atrazine @ 0.5 kg ha-1 PE + 2, 4-D @ 0.5 kg ha-1 PoE at 20 DA, Atrazine @ 0.5 kg ha-1 PE + Pyrithiobac sodium @ 0.5 kg ha-1 PoE at 20 DAS, Organic mulch (Sugarcane trash @ 2 t ha-1, after germination of crop between row) were tested in randomized block design with three replications. The study identified application of atrazine @ 0.5 kg/ha as pre-emergence along with one hand weeding and interculturing at 20 DAS and followed by Two hand weeding (HW) and interculturing (IC) at 20 & 40 DAS) reduced weed competition, obtained better growth and produced higher yields along with more net monetary returns