Performance of wheat under different planting methods and weed management practices

Abstract

An experiment was conducted during rabi 2013-14 to study the performance of wheat under different
planting methods and weed management practices. Experiment was laid out in split-plot design
replicated thrice, having six planting methods [bed planting with two and three rows, drill sowing
at 18 and 20 cm (conventional tillage), drill sowing at 18 and 20 cm (zero tillage)] as main-plot
treatments and five weed management practices [pinoxaden 50 g/ha, {carfentrazone + metsulfuron
(RM)} 25 g/ha, pinoxaden + {carfentrazone + metsulfuron (RM)} (50+25g)/ha, weed free and weedy
check] as subplot treatments. Planting methods had no significant effect on plant height, whereas,
dry matter accumulation and LAI were significantly higher under zero tillage at 18 cm row spacing
as compared to bed planting with two rows of wheat. Zero tillage at 18 cm row spacing produced
significantly higher tillers, whereas, bed planting with two rows of wheat had significantly longer
spike length and 1000 grain weight. Significantly lower grain, straw and biological yield of wheat
was recorded in bed planting with two rows of wheat as compared to all other tillage treatments
which remained at par with each other. Gross returns, net returns and B: C were maximum under
zero tillage at 18 cm row spacing. The combine application of pinoxaden + [carfentrazone +
metsulfuron (RM)] (50 + 25 g)/ha at 35 DAS, being at par with weed free, gave significantly higher
value of growth parameters, yield attributes, yields and economic returns by wheat as compared to
weedy check, however, these parameters under alone application of pinoxaden (50 g/ha) and
carfentrazone + metsulfuron (RM) (25 g/ha) at 35 DAS were at par with each other but were
significantly higher over weedy check.