Quantification and management of intra- and inter-row weed competition in maize (Zea mays L.)
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Date
2019
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Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Abstract
A field experiment “Quantification and management of intra- and inter-row weed competition in maize (Zea mays L.)” was conducted at two locations, Ludhiana and, Langroya (SBS Nagar) during Kharif 2018. Twelve treatments (unweeded control, weed free, weed free (intra-row), weed free (inter-row), tembotrione 110 g ha-1 (blanket spray), tembotrione 36.7 g ha-1 (band spray), tembotrione 36.7 g ha-1 (band spray) + hand weeding (HW) (inter-row), tembotrione 110 g ha-1 + atrazine 625 g ha-1 (blanket spray), tembotrione 36.7 g ha-1 + atrazine 208 g ha-1 (band spray), tembotrione 36.7 g ha-1 + atrazine 208 g ha-1 (band spray) + hand weeding (inter-row), tembotrione 36.7 g ha-1 (band spray) + paraquat 300 g ha-1 (inter-row), tembotrione 36.7 g ha -1 + atrazine 208 g ha-1 (band spray) + paraquat 300 g ha-1 (inter-row) were replicated four times in RCBD. Major weed flora in experimental field included Cyperus rotundus, Trianthema portulacastrum, Dactyloctenium aegyptium at both locations; Commelina benghalensis at Ludhiana and Echinochloa colonum at Langroya only. Weed density and biomass was higher at Ludhiana than at Langroya. Season long weed infestation reduced maize grain yield by 40% at Ludhiana and 30% at Langroya. Weed free check gave highest maize grain yield at both locations; at Ludhiana, it was significantly higher than all weed control treatments while at Langroya it was at par with tembotrione + atrazine (blanket spray) and tembotrione + atrazine (band) plus HW (inter-row). Weed free (inter-rows) had lower weed density and biomass than weed free (intra-rows) but both gave statistically similar grain yield. Integration of tembotrione /tembotrione + atrazine (band) with HW (inter-row) gave weed control at par to tembotrione/tembotrione + atrazine (blanket spray), respectively. Tembotrione 36.7 g ha-1 + atrazine 208 g ha-1 (band spray) + HW (inter-row) gave the highest maize grain yield; at Ludhiana, it was at par with tembotrione 36.7 g ha-1 (band spray) + HW (inter-row), tembotrione 110 g ha-1 + atrazine 625 g ha-1 (blanket spray) and weed free (inter-row) and, at Langroya, maize grain yield did not vary statistically among weed control treatments. Averaged over locations, tembotrione 110 g + atrazine 625 g ha-1 (blanket spray) and tembotrione + atrazine (band spray) plus HW (inter-rows) gave highest net returns while highest B:C was recorded under tembotrione alone/ tembotrione plus atrazine (band spray) + HW/paraquat (inter-row). Tembotrione (band spray) + HW (inter-row) gave higher net returns than tembotrione (blanket spray). In conclusion, the integration of band spray of tembotrione 36.7 g ha-1 alone or as tank-mix with atrazine 208 g ha-1 and HW in inter-rows seems to be the best way for effective weed control and in reducing herbicide load in maize.
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