Characterization of weed flora and farmer perspectives in Gobhi sarson cultivation on heavy-textured soils of Punjab

Abstract

A field–cum–farmer investigation was executed during the rabi 2024-25 season in the southeastern agro-climatic tract of
Punjab (Fatehgarh Sahib) to elucidate the phytosociological composition of weed flora and to diagnose operational
constraints to weed management in gobhi sarson systems. Stratified quadrate sampling across 30 geo-referenced sites
in 10 villages enabled quantitative estimation of population density, fresh biomass, relative frequency, relative density,
relative dominance, and the composite Importance Value Index (IVI) of weed flora. Phytosociological metrics unequivocally
established Phalaris minor and Chenopodium album as the pre-eminent species in terms of density and competitive
potential. A concomitant socio-agronomic survey of 60 representative growers, employing structured personal interviews
and descriptive analytics, revealed that weed pressure was generally rated moderate to severe, with the critical interference
window identified at 16–30 days after planting. Hand hoeing persisted as the dominant control modality, although
chemical and integrated strategies are increasingly incorporated. Principal impediments to optimal weed suppression
comprised erratic herbicide availability, high input costs, inadequate technical cognizance of herbicidal protocols, and
acute labor shortage. Collectively, these findings signify the imperative for species-specific and temporally targeted
interventions, coupled with intensive farmer capacity-building in integrated weed management, to attenuate crop–weed
competition and enhance mustard productivity within this agro-ecological niche.