Effect of integrated weed management on growth, yield, and quality of mustard (Brassica juncea L.)

Abstract

Mustard (Brassica juncea L.) is a vital oilseed crop in India, but its productivity is significantly constrained by weed competition. This study evaluated the efficacy of integrated weed management (IWM) practices on the growth, yield, and quality of mustard during the Rabi season of 2024-25 at Invertis University, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with nine treatments, including pre- and post-emergence herbicides, hand weeding, and mulching. Results indicated that the weed-free treatment (two hand weedings at 20 and 40 DAS) recorded the highest seed yield (19.04 q ha⁻¹), oil content (43.31%), and net returns (₹85,044 ha⁻¹). Pendimethalin (PE) @ 1.0 kg a.i. ha⁻¹ + hand weeding at 35 DAS and paddy straw mulch @ 10 t ha⁻¹ also performed comparably, demonstrating the effectiveness of integrated approaches. The unweeded control exhibited the lowest yield (13.96 q ha⁻¹) and highest weed index (36.10%). These findings suggest that combining chemical and mechanical weed control optimizes mustard productivity while ensuring economic viability.