Effect of non-chemical weed management practices on weed dynamics and performance of sweet corn (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was undertaken at the College Farm, Agricultural College, Polasa, Jagtial, during the rabi season of 2024–25 to evaluate the effect of non-chemical weed management practices on weed dynamics and performance of sweet corn. The study comprised ten weed management strategies: straw mulch, live mulch with cowpea, Gliricidia sepium leaf mulch, Sesbania as intercrop incorporated as mulch after 30 days, coriander as intercrop, weed mat (110 GSM), inter-cultivation at 20 and 40 DAS along with hand weeding at 20 DAS, a herbicide mixture of tembotrione 34.4% SC at 100 g ha⁻¹ + atrazine 50% WP at 500 g ha⁻¹ applied at 20 DAS, a weed-free control and a weedy check. The treatments were arranged in a randomized block design with three replications. Among the treatments, the weed mat mulch significantly reduced total weed density and dry weight comparable to the weed-free check at 20 DAS and second only to it at 40 and 60 DAS. This was closely followed by the chemical herbicide combination and the inter-cultivation with hand weeding treatment. In terms of crop performance, the weed mat mulch treatment recorded the highest values for growth parameters, yield attributes and yield, followed by the weed-free check and the inter-cultivation treatment. In contrast, the weedy check exhibited the poorest weed control efficiency and the lowest crop growth and yield performance, underscoring the necessity of effective weed management for enhancing sweet corn productivity.