EFFICACY OF HERBICIDES AGAINST DIVERSE WEED FLORA OF WHEAT (Triticum aestivum L.)
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Date
2023
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Abstract
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) holds a significant position among the food grain
crops in India, not only in terms of its area and production, but also for its versatility in
adapting to a wide range of agro-climatic conditions. Wheat cultivation covered an area
of approximately 30 million hectares in India, resulting in a total annual production of
103.5 million tons and an average yield of 3533 kilograms per hectare in 2020 (FAO Stat
2020). By 2051, due to population growth, the production of wheat will have to increase
by 110-120 million tons. In wheat cultivation, weed management is a major challenge,
which limits crop yield. Wheat is highly susceptible to weed competition in its slow early
growth, hence timely weed management is necessary. The manual weed management is
considered crucial during the first 60 days, it has become difficult due to labour scarcity
and rising labour cost. Therefore, an effective herbicide is required for controlling mixed
weed flora during wheat cultivation with minimum cost.
An experiment entitled “Efficacy of herbicides against diverse weed flora of
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)” was conducted at Birsa Agricultural University Farm,
Ranchi during rabi season, 2021-22 to quantify the response of pre and early post
emergence herbicides with the main emphasis to find out the effect of herbicides on
growth, yield, weed dynamics and economics of wheat. The experiment was led out in
randomized block design (RBD) and replicated thrice with the variety DBW 187 under
the irrigated condition. The treatment consists of T1: Pendimethalin @ 1000g a.i/ha (PE),
T2: Pendimethalin @ 1500g a.i/ha (PE), T3: Pyroxasulfone 85% WG @ 127.5g a.i/ha
(PE), T4: Pendimethalin @ 1250g a.i/ha + Pyroxasulfone @ 127.5g a.i/ha (tank mix PE),
T5: Pyroxasulfone @ 127.5g a.i/ha + metsulfuron @ 4g a.i/ha (tank mix PE), T6:
Pyroxasulfone @ 127.5g a.i/ha (EPoE), T7: Pyroxasulfone @ 127.5g a.i/ha +
metsulfuron @ 4g a.i/ha (tank mix EPoE), T8: Metribuzin @ 300g a.i/ha (PE), T9:
Pendimethalin @ 1250g a.i/ha + Metribuzin @ 280g a.i/ha (tank mix PE), T10:
Pyroxasulfone @ 127.5g a.i/ha + Metribuzin @ 280g a.i/ha (tank mix PE), T11: Weedy
check, T12: Weed free. The soil was clay loam, acidic in reaction (5.6), low in available
nitrogen (247.2 kg/ha), medium in available phosphorus (20.5 kg/ha), potassium (156.1
kg/ha) and low in organic carbon (4.5 g/kg soil).
Results revealed that among herbicidal treatments at 30 and 60 DAS, application
of Pyroxasulfone @ 127.5g a.i/ha + metsulfuron @ 4g a.i/ha (tank mix PE) (T5)
exhibited the lowest total weed density (31.27 and 46.97/m2 respectively), total weed dry
weight (11.31 and 31.47 g/m2 respectively) and the highest weed control efficiency
(80.89 and 79.03 %). Similarly, application of Pyroxasulfone @ 127.5g a.i/ha +
metsulfuron @ 4g a.i/ha (tank mix PE) (T5) recorded the highest growth parameter of
wheat viz, plant height at maturity (104.33 cm), leaf area index at 90 DAS (4.18),
tillers/m2 at maturity (430.57), Dry matter accumulation at maturity (1096.25 g/m2), crop
growth rate 30-60 DAS (10.77 g/m2/day), yield attribute viz, spikes/m2 (418.33), number
of grain/spike (44.79), spike length (9.48 cm), 1000 - grain weight (46.50 g), grain yield
(5.81 t/ha), straw yield (6.65 t/ha) and net return (₹ 77696/ha) among herbicidal
treatments.
On the basis of one year experimentation, it may be concluded that among
herbicidal treatments application of Pyroxasulfone @ 127.5g a.i/ha + metsulfuron @ 4g
a.i/ha (tank mix PE) (T5) proved to be effective in suppressing weeds and recorded
maximum grain yield (5.81 t/ha) and net return (₹ 77696/ha) with B:C ratio (1.82) of
wheat for acidic soils of Jharkhand under irrigated condition.