Influence of different weed management practices on weed flora, growth, yield and economics of Indian bean (Lablab purpureus L.) under south Gujarat condition

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at College Farm, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari during rabi season of 2016-17 to study the "Effect of weed management practices on growth and yield of vegetable Indian bean (Lablab purpureus L.) under south Gujarat condition." Application of weed free treatment significantly reduced the weed count and dry weed biomass, increased the weed control efficiency. Nutrient losses by weeds were observed highest under unweeded control treatment and lowest with weed free condition followed by application of pendimethalin (CS) @ 0.5 kg/ha as PE. weed free treatment, three hand weeding (HW) at 20, 40 and 60 DAS, Pendimethalin (EC) @ 1.0 kg/ha as PE + HW at 40 DAS (T5), imazethapyr @ 75 g/ha at 20 DAS + HW at 40 DAS (T8) and pendimethalin (CS) @ 0.5 kg/ha as PE + HW at 40 DAS (T6) enhanced the growth characters viz., plant height, number of branches per plant, dry matter accumulation, days to 50% flowering along with the yield attributes like pod length, number of pods per plant and number of seeds per pod. Pod and stover yields of Indian bean were significantly higher under weed free treatment being at par with the application of pendimethalin (EC) @ 1 kg/ha as PE + HW at 40 DAS (T5), pendimethalin (CS) @ 0.5 kg/ha as PE + HW at 40 DAS (T6) and imazethapyr @ 75 g/ha at 20 DAS +HW at 40 DAS (T8) for pod yield, while in addition to these treatments, imazethapyr @ 75 g/ha at 20 DAS (T7) was also found at par for stover yield. Maximum net returns of Rs. 26343/ha were incurred due to the application of pendimethalin (EC) @ 1 kg/ha as PE + HW at 40 DAS (T5), and resulted into maximum beneficial treatment for rabi Indian bean.