Influence of sequential application of herbicides on weed control and yield of kharif maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out at the Instructional Farm of Agronomy, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur during kharif, 2024 to study the “Influence of sequential application of herbicides on weed control and yield of kharif maize (Zea mays L.)”. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design comprising of 12 treatments replicated thrice. The experimental field was heavily infested with various grassy, sedges and broad-leaved weeds but the dominancy of grassy weeds was observed. Among pre-emergence herbicides, pyroxasulfone showed more effectiveness in controlling weeds as compared to atrazine. In case of post-emergence herbicides, halosulfuron methyl, tembotrione, topramezone were found to provide higher control of sedges, grasses and broad-leaved weeds, respectively in comparison to other PoE herbicides. Due to severe crop-weed competition, 52.49 per cent yield reduction was noticed in weedy check plot (T1) as compared to weed free plot (T2). The results revealed that weed free treatment (T2) resulted in the maximum grain yield (5784 kg ha-1) and stover yield (8686 kg ha-1). Among herbicidal treatments, pyroxasulfone @ 127 g ha-1 fb tembotrione @ 120 g ha-1 at 25 DAS (T10) provided the maximum weed control efficiency (89.73%), grain yield (5682 kg ha-1) and stover yield (8556 kg ha-1).