Effect of different weed management practices on growth, yield, soil nutrient status and net realization of mustard [Brassica juncea L. (Czern and Coss)] under North Gujarat condition

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Agronomy Instructional Farm, C. P. College of Agriculture, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar during Rabi season of 2024-25 to study the “Effect of different weed management practices on growth, yield, soil nutrient status and net realization of mustard [Brassica juncea L. (Czern and Coss)] under North Gujarat condition” experimental soil is loamy sand. The experiment was conducted in randomized block design with three replications and nine treatments. The mustard variety GM 6 was sown at a distance of 45 cm between the rows. Besides weed free treatment, growth parameters and yield attributes of mustard viz. plant height, number of primary and secondary branches per plant, numbers of silique, seeds per silique, seed yield, stover yield and lower weed index per hectare were recorded highest with pendimethalin (PE) @ 383.5 g/ha fb interculturing at 30 DAS, statistically at par with pendimethalin (PE) @ 383.5 g/ha + hand weeding at 30 DAS, and pendimethalin (PE) @ 383.5 g/ha fb quizalofop-p-ethyl (PoE) at 30 DAS. Furthermore, weed free up to 60 DAS recorded higher net return of ₹72,345/ha followed by pendimethalin (PE) @ 383.5 g/ha fb interculturing at 30 DAS (₹68,776/ha), pendimethalin (PE) @ 383.5 g/ha fb quizalofop-p-ethyl (PoE) @ 0.05 kg/ha at 30 DAS (₹64,039/ha) and pendimethalin (PE) @ 383.5 g/ha + hand weeding aT30 DAS (₹60,462/ha) as compared with weedy check. As well as availability of soil nutrients i.e., (N, P2O5 and K2O) kg/ha was higher under these mentioned treatments after weed free treatment and lowest (N, P2O5 and K2O) kg/ha was recorded under weedy check treatment. Based on the findings, it may be concluded that application of pendimethalin at 383.5 g/ha in combination with one cultural operation (either hand weeding or interculturing) or a timely post-emergence herbicide application can be enhanced productivity and profitability in Indian mustard.