Efficacy of integrated weed management practices on growth and yield of sweet corn

Abstract

Field experiment was carried out at Vangudi village of udaiyarpalayam taluk, Ariyalur district, Tamil Nadu during July to October, 2022. The treatments included of best combinations consisting of chemical and cultural method of weed control. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with ten treatments and replicated thrice. Among the different treatments, pre-emergence application of metolachlor 50% EC @ 1 kg a.i. ha-1 on 3 DAS + Intercropping (Blackgram) (T8) which helps in reducing weed density and ultimately reduced weed biomass which resulted in increase in crop growth and yield. Higher plant height, DMP and higher green cob yield were recorded under T8-IWM practice might be due to maintenance of weed free environment, particularly throughout vital growth stages of crop, cut back crop weed competition helped in higher growth and development of sweet corn crop leading to higher green cob yield.