Impact of Sustainable Weed Management Practices on Growth, Phenology and Yield of Rabi Grain Maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to find out the most sustainable weed management practice during rabi, 2014-15 at college farm, Collage of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, comprised of eight weed management practices (Farmers practice, PE application of atrazine 1.0 kg ai ha-1 fb 2, 4- D sodium salt 1.0 kg ai ha-1 at 30 DAS, live mulch (vegetable cowpea), brown manuring, black polythene mulch, white polythene mulch (25 µm UV resistant), high density planting + halosulfuron methyl 67.5 g ha-1 at 20 DAS and weedy check) in randomized block design, replicated thrice. Season long weed control could be achieved either with application of black polythene mulch or white polythene mulch of 25 µm UV resistant. Significantly higher grain yield (7657 kg ha-1) was obtained in black polythene mulch and was at par with white polythene mulch (7559 kg ha-1), farmers practice (7072 kg ha-1) and PE application of atrazine 1.0 kg ai ha-1 fb 2, 4- D sodium salt 1.0 kg ai ha-1 at 30 DAS treatment (6915 kg ha-1) with significant increase in plant height, crop dry matter, leaf area index at all the stages and less number of days to emerge, early days to 50%.