INTEGRATED WEED MANAGEMENT IN ELEPHANT FOOT YAM [Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson] cv. Gajendra
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Date
2018
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Publisher
Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, Jharkhand-6
Abstract
Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst. Nicolson) [Elephant foot yam] is largely
cultivated in the Philippines, Java, Indonesia, Sumatra, Malaysia, Bangladesh, India and
China. In India, it is cultivated in Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Gujarat, Kerala, Tamil
Nadu, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand. Gajendra, Bidhan Kusum and Sree
Padma are some of the high yielding Amorphophallus varieties released for cultivation in
India. The production potential of this crop is 50-80 t ha-1 and net economic return is
over 1.5 lakh rupees ha-1. In India, grown over an area of 29 (000’ ha) with an average
production of 748 (000’ MT) and productivity 26 MT ha-1.
Keeping this factor in view the present investigation was carried out in the
experimental farm of Department of Horticulture, Ranchi Agriculture College, Birsa
Agricultural University during during kharif season of 2017 with objective to identify
the different weed flora, to evaluate the response of different herbicides and cultural
method of weed control, growth, yield and the attributing traits of elephant foot yam and
to determine the economics of different weed control method in Elephant foot yam. The
treatments consisted of 9 different weed control methods, viz. T1 (Pre-emergence
herbicide pendimethalin @1kg a.i. ha-1 at 1DAP + Post emergence herbicide glyphosate
1kg a.i./ha at 45 and 90 DAP), T2 (Pre emergence herbicide pendimethalin @ 1kg
a.i./ha at 1DAP + hand weeding 45 and 90 DAP), T3 (Raising green manure cow pea in
interspaces along with planting and incorporation 45-60 DAP + post emergence
herbicide glyphosate @ 1kg a.i ha-1 at 90 DAP), T4 (Hand weeding 45 DAP + post
emergence herbicide glyphosate @ 1kg a.i ha-1 at 90 DAP), T5 (Post emergence herbicide
glyphosate @ 1kg a.i. ha-1 at 30, 60 and 90 DAP), T6 (Weed control ground cover @ 50
kg ha-1), T7 (Black plastic mulch), T8 (Hand weeding at 30, 60 and 90 DAP), T9 (weedy
check) were laid out in Randomized Block Design with replicated thrice.
Results revealed that among all the categories, broad leaved dominated followed
by grassy and sedges weeds. Weed density and dry weight were significantly reduced by
weed management methods. The lowest weed density (0.00 m-2 at 90 and 120 DAP and
26.67 m-2 at 150 DAP) and lowest weed dry matter (0.00 m-2 at 90 and 120 DAP and
13.56 m-2 at 150 DAP) were recorded under black plastic mulch (T7). Maximum weed
control efficiency (100 percent, 100 percent, 95.52 percent at 90, 120 and 150 DAP
respectively) were recorded under black plastic mulch (T7). All weed management
practices significantly improved the yield of tuber over control (no weeding) [T9].
Maximum height of pseudostem, girth of pseudostem, leaf area, canopy spread,
volume of corms and no. of branches were recorded under black plastic mulch (T7)
which was statically at par with 3 hand weedings at 30, 60 and 90 DAP (T8) and
Glyphosate 1 kg a.i. ha-1 at 30, 60 and 90 DAP (T5) While dry matter percentage of
corms and diameter of corms were not significantly influenced by weed competition;
however, some treatments increased the value of these parameter compared to control
(no weeding). Maximum dry matter percentage (24.08 percent) was also recorded under
black plastic mulch (T7) which was statically par with all treatment except control (no
weeding). Maximum diameter (horizontal-22.36 cm and vertical-19.37 cm) was also
recorded under black plastic mulch (T7) which was statically par with all treatment
except T1, T4, T6 and T9.
The maximum tuber yield (58.64 t ha-1) were recorded under black plastic mulch
(T7) which was statically at par with 3 hand weeding at 30, 60 and 90 DAP (T8) [52.48 t
ha-1] and Glyphosate 1 kg a.i. ha-1 at 30, 60 and 90 DAP (T5) [49.12 t ha-1]. Highest TSS
(6.4 brix) recorded under weedy check (no weeding) (T9) while highest ascorbic acid
(17.4 mg per 100 gm) recorded under hand weeding at 45 DAP + glyphosate 1kg a.i. ha-1
at 50 DAP (T4). Significant highest net return (` 557906 ha-1) highest B:C ratio (2.15)
were recorded by black plastic mulch (T7). However, the lowest B:C ratio (1.11) was
recorded in the weedy check (no weeding). Highest weed population, weed dry matter
and lowest tuber yield, net return and B:C ratio were recorded under control (no
weeding) [T9].
Thus, on the basis of results obtained in one year investigation (2017-18) it can
be inferred that mulches, herbicides and hand weeding have potential for reduction in
weed density for effective weed management in Amorphophallus under Jharkhand
conditions and thereby promoting high yield of elephant foot yam. After analyzing the
data it is inferred that the best treatment was black plastic mulch followed by hand
weeding at 30, 60 and 90 DAP and application of glyphosate 1 kg a.i. ha-1 at 30, 60 and
90 DAP. Hence, black plastic mulch was found as the most promising treatment in order
to get better vegetative growth, higher productivity and profitability of elephant foot yam
owing to better weed control. However, as these result 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 ELEPHANT FOOT YAM [Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson] cv. Gajendra
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