Weed control in autumn sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) based intercropping systems
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Date
2013
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Publisher
PAU
Abstract
The investigation entitled “Weed control in autumn sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) based intercropping systems” was conducted at The Students’ Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana during 2010-11 and 2011-12. The soil was loamy sand, normal pH and EC, low in organic carbon & available N and medium in available P & K. Experiment I consisted of 3 cropping systems {sole sugarcane, sugarcane + gobhi sarson(1:1) and sugarcane + raya(1:2)} in main plots and 6 weed control treatments {pre emergence pendimethalin 0.562 kg & 0.75 kg ha -1 , pre emergence alachlor 1.25 kg & 1.875 kg ha -1 , two hand weeding (30 and 60 DAS) and weedy check}in sub plots with 4 eplications in a split plot design. Experiment II consisted of 4 cropping systems {sole sugarcane,
sugarcane + cabbage (1:1); sugarcane + peas (1:2) and sugarcane + garlic (1:3)} in the main plots and six
weed control treatments {oxyfluorfen 0.176 kg & 0.234 kg ha -1 PRE, pendimethalin 0.562 kg & 0.75 kg ha
-1 PRE, hand weeding (30 & 60 DAS in cabbage and peas;30, 60 & 100 DAS in garlic) and weedy check}
in sub plots replicated thrice in a split plot design. In autumn sugarcane and Brassicaspecies intercropping
systems, gobhi sarsonandraya intercrops exhibited good weed smothering potentialand reduced the weed
count and dry matter accumulation than sole sugarcane; rayawas more effective than gobhi sarson. The
cane yield under gobhi sarson and raya intercropped sugarcane were similar to that of sole sugarcane during both the years; cane equivalent yield, net profit and benefit cost ratio under the intercropping systems were higher than sole sugarcane. The intercropping of rayaand gobhi sarsonin autumn sugarcane increased the net returns by ` 61,469 and ` 26,738 ha -1 , respectively, than sole sugarcane. Pendimethalin 0.75 kg and alachlor 1.875 kg ha -1 recorded effective control of weeds in these intercropping systems and increased the seed yield of gobhi sarson by 43.6 & 37.3 per cent and raya by 16.1 & 14.1 per cent, respectively than weedy check and were at par with hand weeding. The increase in net returns with the use of these herbicides varied from ` 1,775 to ` 16,406 ha
-1 as compared with weedy check. In autumn sugarcane and vegetables intercropping systems, peas exhibited partial weed suppressing ability while cabbage and garlic did not show any weed suppressing ability; weed population and dry matter accumulation under these intercropping systems were similar to that of sole sugarcane during both the years. The cane yield under these intercropping systems were similar to that of sole sugarcane, however, cane equivalent yield, net returns and benefit cost ratio of intercropping systems were higher than sole sugarcane. Sugarcane + garlic intercropping recorded the highest gross, net returns and benefit cost ratio. Averaged over two seasons, the intercropping of garlic increased the net returns by ` 1,36,548 ha -1 than sole cane; the corresponding figures for peas and cabbage intercropping systems were ` 73,860 and ` 61,388 ha -1 . Oxyfluorfen 0.234 kg and pendimethalin 0.75 kg ha -1 recorded effective control of weeds in these intercropping systems and were at par with hand weeding and significantly increased yield of cabbage, peas and garlic than under weedy check. The herbicides use increased net returns by ` 11,459 to ` 36,263 ha -1 as compared with weedy check. The three herbicides at the dose tested were safe to the sugarcane and the intercrops. The herbicides only temporarily reduced the population of soil microbes on the day of application; it recovered within 15 days after application. The residues of pendimethalin and oxyfluorfen in the intercrops produce were below detectable limit.
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Keywords
Intercropping, profitability, system productivity, weed control