Comparative evaluation of pre and post emergence herbicides and their combinations for weed control in Indian mustard

Abstract

A field trial was carried out at GD Goenka University, Gurugram, Haryana, India, School of Agricultural Sciences Research farm during the 2023-2024 rabi season. The trial was conducted using randomized block design consisting of 10 treatments as: T1- Pendimethalin 30 EC @ I.5 L/ha (PE), T2- Clodinafop 15 WP @ 400g a.i/ha (25 DAS), T3- Quizalofop ethyl 10 EC @ 450g a.i/ha (25 DAS), T4- Metribuzin 70 WP @ 0.5kg a.i/ha (25 DAS), T5- Pendimethalin (PE) + Clodinafop (30 DAS), T6- Pendimethalin (PE) + Metribuzin (30 DAS), T7- Pendimethalin (PE) + one hand weeding (30 DAS), T8- Pendimethalin (PE) + Quizalofop (30 DAS), T9- Weed free and T10- Control (weedy check). Observations were recorded on
(weed population and dry weight, plant height, plant fresh and dry weights) at 30, 60, and 90 DAS and then at harvest. Weedy check produced highest dry weight and density of weeds. T7- Pendimethalin 30EC + one hand weeding (30 DAS) produced least weed population and dry matter, followed by T6- Pendimethalin 30EC (PE) + Metribuzin 70WP (30 DAS). Highest weed control efficiency (WCE) was achieved from T7
(97.2% at 30 DAS and 98.04 at harvest). The least WCE was recorded in T2 (45.78% and 53.24% as first and last readings, respectively) which was statistically superior to weedy check. Highest crop fresh and dry weights, plant height, seed and stover yields, total count of seed per siliqua, total count of siliqua per crop, test weight and a harvest index (H.I) of 31.05 were obtained from T7- Pendimethalin + 1 hand weeding (30 DAS), followed by T6 (30.13), T8 (28.95), T5 (28.73), T1 (27.43), T4 (26.87), T2 (26.79), and T3 (26.34). Lowest H.I of 23.6 was recorded in control treatment. Maximum profit of INR 99,085 and 2.08 benefit cost (B:C) ratio were also obtained from T7 [Pendimethalin (PE) + one manual weeding (30 DAS)]. Based on above results, the use of Pendimethalin (PE) + one manual weeding (30 DAS) is suggested to Indian
mustard farmers of south Gurugram region of Haryana state as it produced highest outcome.