Effect of weed management practices on growth, yield and economics of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.)

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted during 2023-24 at research farm, ICAR-Directorate of Weed Research, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh and to Effect of Weed Management Practices on Growth, Yield and Economics of Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) and to work out the economics of the treatments. All herbicide treatments in crop growth parameters viz. plant height, number of branches/plant, leaves/plant, leaf area, crop yield attributes viz. number of capitulum/plant, diameter of capitulum (cm), number of seeds/capitulum, seed weight/capitulum (g) and seed yield was recorded highest in oxyfluorfen 150 g/ha as PE fb 1 hand weeding 20 DAS followed by oxyfluorfen 150 g/ha as PE fb propaquizafop 100 g/ha as PoE and significantly found superior over rest of the treatments. On the basis of one-year study, it could be stated that either oxyfluorfen 150 g/ha as PE fb 1 hand weeding 20 DAS or oxyfluorfen 150 g/ha as PE fb propaquizafop 100 g/ha as PoE can be used satisfactorily to manage the weeds in safflower and produce higher seed yield of safflower. Oxyfluorfen 150 g/ha as PE fb 1 hand weeding 20 DAS was found more economical with higher net return followed by oxyfluorfen 150 g/ha as PE fb propaquizafop 100 g/ha as PoE. On the basis of seed yield, weed control efficiency, net returns and benefit-cost ratio, oxyfluorfen 150 g/ha as PE fb 1 hand weeding 20 DAS and oxyfluorfen 150 g/ha as PE fb propaquizafop 100 g/ha as PoE should be used for effective weed control in safflower.