Effect of Pre-Planting and Pre-Emergence herbicides on growth and yield of Rajmash var. PDR-14

Abstract

A pot experiment was carried out to study the effect of pre–planting and pre–emergence herbicides on weed population, weed dry weight, yield attributes and yield of Rajmash under irrigated conditions of western U.P during the Rabi. Among the different weed control treatments applied, then the application of fluchloralin @ 1.0 kg a.i/ha and pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg a.i/ha reduced the population of Anagallis arvensis, Melilotus alba L., Melilotus indica L. and Phalaris minor significantly as weedy check and other herbicide treatments in comparison, there by resulting significant increase in weed control efficiency, growth and yield attributes viz. plant height, no. of branches/plant, dry matter accumulation, no. of pods/plant and seeds/pod, seed and straw yield of Rajmash. The N uptake by weeds was also significantly reduced, where as significant increase in N uptake was observed in Rajmash at various crop growth stages over weed check. Application of fluchloralin @ 1.0 kg a.i/ha or pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg a.i/ha used then increased the yield of Rajmash (1.03 to 1.04 t/ha) significantly over weedy check, besides realised at B: C. ratio of 2.10 to 2.15 during two cropping season.