Weed dynamics, productivity and profitability of wheat as influenced by tillage and weed management practices in Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains Dayal Parmeswar1,2, Kumar Arun1,3, Pal Ravikesh Kumar1, Sow Sumit4,*, Ranjan Shivani4, Tyagi Shashank1, Kumar Pradeep5 1Department of Agronomy, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur, Bihar, India 2Present address: Division of Agronomy, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India 3Present address: Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner, Rajasthan, India 4Department of Agronomy, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Bihar, India 5Department of Agronomy, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture & Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India *Corresponding author email: sumitsow19@gmail.com
Online Published on 18 January, 2024. Abstract Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is infested with several grassy and broad-leaf weeds which create competitive stress resulting in yield losses varying from 10-70% depending upon their density. A field experiment was conducted during winter season of 2021-22 at the Research Farm, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur, Bihar, India to assess the effect of tillage and weed management practices on weed dynamics, yield and economics of wheat. The experiment was carried out in a split plot design, replicated thrice. The main plot comprised of two tillage methods i.e., conventional tillage and zero tillage while subplots consisted different herbicide combinations i.e., weedy, weed free, pinoxaden 5.1% EC 20 g/ha, carfentrazone-ethyl 40% DF 20 g/ha, clodinafop-propargyl 15% WP EC 60 g/ha, carfentrazone-ethyl 20% DF 20 g/ha + pinoxaden 5.1% EC 20 g/ha, carfentrazone-ethyl 20% DF EC 20 g/ha + pinoxaden 5.1% EC 20 g/ha, metsulfuron-methyl 20% WP 4 g/ha + clodinafop-propargyl 15% WP 60 g/ha, metsulfuron-methyl 20% WP 4 g/ha + pinoxaden 5.1% EC 20 g/ha. The low weed density and biomass along with higher grain yield were recorded under zero tillage as compared to conventional tillage. Similarly, zero tillage recorded lower cost of cultivation (  |
33702 /ha), higher net returns ( |
69381 /ha) and B: C ratio (2.07). Among herbicide combinations, the treatment metsulfuron-methyl 20% WP 4 g/ha + clodinafop-propargyl 15% WP 60 g/ha followed by metsulfuron-methyl 20% WP 4 g/ha + pinoxaden 5.1% EC 20 g/ha resulted in higher weed control efficiency, yield, net returns and B:C ratio.Top Keywords Chemical control, Metsulfuron, Profitability, Tillage, Weed dynamics, Wheat. Top |