INTEGRATED WEED MANAGEMENT IN TARO [Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum (L.) Schott.]
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Date
2018
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Publisher
Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, Jharkhand-6
Abstract
Taro [Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum (L.)Schott.] is one of the important
tuberous vegetable of the world and known as "Great leaved Caladium" or "Elephant ear
"in English, "Dasheen" in USA, "cocoyam" in West Africa. In India, taro is extensively
grown in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh,
Assam and Orissa. It is also popular in North eastern states of India and successfully
grown throughout the region due to its adaptability to a wide range of soil and climatic
conditions. Colocasia being kharif crop is liable to be highly infested with weeds which
is extremely hazardous both in terms of crop health as well as productivity. It has been
well established that the yield loss due to weeds is quite higher (60-70%). Even though
taro is having much economic importance, but there is very little information available
regarding the Integrated weed management practices for its maximum quality and
quantity.
An investigation to study the “Integrated weed management in Taro [Colocasia
esculenta var. antiquorum (L.) Schott.]” was carried out in the experimental farm of
Department of Horticulture, Ranchi Agriculture College, Birsa Agricultural University
during kharif season of 2017 with an objective to identify the different weed flora, to
evaluate the response of different herbicides and cultural methods of weed control,
growth, yield and the attributing traits of taro and to determine the economics of different
integrated weed control methods in taro. The treatments consisted of 13 different weed
control methods, viz. Pre emergence herbicide Atrazine @ 1kg a.i. ha-1 at 2 DAS (T1),
Pre emergence herbicide Oxyflourfen @ 200g a.i. ha-1 at 2DAS (T2), Post emergence
herbicide Paraquat @ 0.5kg a.i. ha-1 at 30 DAS (T3), Handweeding at 3 and 8 WAS (T4),
Pre emergence herbicide Atrazine @ 1kg a.i. ha-1 at 2DAS+ Handweeding at 12 WAS
(T5), Pre emergence herbicide Oxyflourfen @ 200g a.i. ha-1 at 2DAS+ Handweeding at
12 WAS (T6), Post emergence herbicide Paraquat @ 0.5kg a.i. ha-1 at 30 DAS+
Handweeding at 12 WAS (T7), Sesbania @ 50kg ha-1 broadcasted at the time of sowing
and incorporated at 60 DAS (T8), Straw mulch @ 7 tonnes ha-1 at the time of sowing
(T9), Transparent plastic mulch @ 40kg ha-1 at the time of sowing (T10), Black plastic
mulch @ 40 kg ha-1 at the time of sowing (T11), Weedfree check -Manual Handweeding
at fortnightly interval (T12), Weedy check (T13) were laid out in Randomized Block
Design with 3 replications.
Results revealed that among all the categories, broad leaved weeds dominated the
field followed by narrow leaved and sedges weeds. Weed density and dry weight were
significantly reduced by different weed management methods. The lowest weed density
(0.00 weed m-2 at 45 DAS, 32.00 weeds m-2 at 90 DAS and 117.33 weeds m-2 at 135
DAS) and lowest weed dry matter (0.00 gm-2 at 45 DAS, 13.72 gm-2 at 90 DAS and
34.65 g m-2 at 135 DAS) were recorded under (Black plastic mulch) T11. Maximum weed
control efficiency (100.00 %, 98.08 % and 93.65 %) at 45, 90 and 135DAS was found in
Black plastic mulch (T11). Minimum weed index 0.00 % was found in Black plastic
mulch (T11). All weed management practices significantly improved the yield of tuber
over weedy check. Maximum height of plant was recorded in Sesbania incorporated at
60 DAS (T8), followed by Black plastic mulch (T11). Maximum Girth of stem, Length
and breadth of leaves, Number of leaves per plant, Leaf area index, Length and girth of
mother corms and cormels, Number of mother corms and cormels per plant were
recorded in Black plastic mulch (T11). Minimum incidence of Phytophthora leaf blight
was recorded in Black plastic mulch (T11) followed by Weed free check (T12). Highest
TSS (5.73°Bricks) was recorded under Weedy check (T13) in which no weeding was
done while highest Ascorbic acid 13.06 mg 100g-1 was recorded under Oxyflourfen (T6).
The maximum tuber yield (16.62 t ha-1) were recorded under Black plastic mulch (T11)
followed by Weed free check (T12) 16.24 t ha-1. Highest net return (Rs 196677.00 ha-1),
highest Marginal return per rupee (B:C ratio) [2.45] were recorded in Black plastic
mulch (T11). However, the lowest Marginal return per rupee (B:C ratio) [1.68] was
recorded in the Weedy check (T13). Highest weed population, weed dry matter and
lowest tuber yield, net return and Marginal return per rupee (B:C ratio) were recorded
under weedy check (T13).
Thus, on the basis of results obtained in one year investigation (2017-18) it can
be concluded that mulches, herbicides and hand weeding have potential of effective
weed management in taro. After analysing the data it is concluded that the best
treatments were black plastic mulch followed by Weed free check. Hence, black plastic
mulch was found as the most promising treatment in order to get better vegetative
growth higher productivity and profitability of taro owing to better weed control.
However, as these results are based on one year data, it needs verification for at least one
more year for making definite recommendation to the growers.
Description
INTEGRATED WEED MANAGEMENT IN TARO [Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum (L.) Schott.]
Keywords
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