Assessment of weed management practices on yield and economics of lentil

Abstract

The On-farm trial was conducted during Rabi season 2020-21 and 2021-22 for Assessment of efficacy of different herbicides on yield and economics of Lentil crop at farmers fields of Munger district. The On-farm trial was conducted in randomized block design with three technical options viz. pendimethalin 1.0 kg a.i./ha at pre-emergence, pendimethalin 1.0 kg a.i./ha at pre-emergence + imezethypur 20 g a.i./ha post-emergence (25 days after sowing) and imezethypur 30 g a.i./ha post-emergence (30 days after sowing) and farmers practice and keeping with 7 farmers (replications). Application of Pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg ai/ha pre emergence + Imazethapyr @ 20 g ai/ha post emergence at 25 days after sowing was recorded significantly lower total weeds population (9 and 7 m-2) in lentil crop followed by Imazethapyr @ 30 g ai/ha post emergence at 30 days after sowing (13 and 10 m-2) and Pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg ai/ha pre emergence (31 and 28 m-2) over farmers practice (65 and 62 m-2) in both the crop seasons. Application of Pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg ai/ha pre emergence + Imazethapyr @ 20 g ai/ha post emergence at 25 days after sowing was recorded significantly higher grain yield (13.4 and 14.8 q ha-1) and straw yield (15.9 and 17.1 q ha-1) and biological yield(29.2 and 31.9 q ha-1) of lentil over Imazethapyr @ 30 g ai/ha post emergence at 30 days after sowing and Pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg ai/ha pre emergence than that of farmers practice during both years. However, maximum gross returns (Rs. 71050 and 89860/ha) was obtained with application of Pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg ai/ha pre emergence + Imazethapyr @ 20 g ai/ha post emergence at 25 days after sowing followed by Imazethapyr @ 30 g ai/ha post emergence at 30 days after sowing, pendimethalin 1.0 kg ai/ha pre emergence over farmers practice (Rs.44275 and 51770 ha) during both years. However, net return (Rs.55587 and 67600 ha/ha) was obtained with application of Pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg ai/ha pre emergence + Imazethapyr @ 20 g ai/ha post emergence at 25 days after sowing followed by Imazethapyr @ 30 g ai/ha post emergence at 30 days after sowing, pendimethalin 1.0 kg ai/ha pre emergence over farmers practice (Rs.39532 and 33650 ha-1) during both years. The maximum B:C ratio (3.87 and 4.34) was obtained with application of Pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg ai/ha pre emergence + Imazethapyr @ 20 g ai/ha post emergence at 25 days after sowing followed by Imazethapyr @ 30 g ai/ha post emergence at 30 days after sowing and pendimethalin 1.0 kg ai/ha pre emergence and one hand weeding at 30 days after sowing over farmers practice (2.78 and 2.86) during both years.