Response of chickpea cultivars to post-emergence herbicides: Growth, yield and economic performance

Abstract

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is a vital pulse crop in India, but its productivity is often limited by weed competition, necessitating effective herbicide use. This study evaluated the response of four chickpea cultivars (NBeG-452, JG-11, Jaki-9218 and KAK-2) to four post-emergence herbicides (Topramezone, Imazethapyr, Sodium Acifluorfen + Clodinafop Propargyl and Fomesafen + Fluazifop-p-butyl) applied at 25 days after sowing during the rabi season of 2024-25 at RARS, Lam Farm, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh. Cultivars NBeG-452 and Jaki-9218 exhibited superior growth parameters, including higher plant height (39.5 and 38.2 cm at 45 DAS), drymatter production (1915 and 1865 kg ha-1 at 60 DAS) and number of pods per plant (27.0 and 24.6), resulting in higher seed yields (1759 and 1693 kg ha-1) respectively compared to KAK-2 (1349 kg ha-1). Topramezone (15 g ha-1) and Sodium Acifluorfen + Clodinafop Propargyl (122.5 g ha-1) recorded the highest seed yields (1910 and 1823 kg ha-1) with minimal phytotoxicity and higher net returns (Rs 70141 and Rs 67683 ha-1), benefit-cost ratios (2.0 and 1.9). These findings highlight the efficacy of Topramezone and Sodium Acifluorfen + Clodinafop Propargyl with NBeG-452 and Jaki-9218 for optimizing chickpea productivity and economic returns.