Herbicidal Potential of Sorghum and Brassica Against the Weeds of Cotton

Abstract

Weed infestation is among the main factors which decrease cotton yield. Allelopathy has been well-documented as a phenomenon offering natural weed control in agro-ecosystems. An experiment was conducted to figure out the herbicidal potential of a mixture of sorghum and brassica water extracts (SBWE) against weeds in cotton. Combinations of SBWE each at 16 L ha-1 were sprayed alone and in combination in a tank mixed with and ¼ doses of both pendimethalin (0.625 and 0.416 kg a.i. ha-1) and S-metolachlor (1.075 and 0.716 kg a.i. ha-1). Recommended doses of pendimethalin (1.25 kg a.i. ha-1) and S-metolachlor (2.15 kg a.i. ha-1) were also sprayed for comparison. As control, a weedy check treatment where nothing was sprayed was also included in the experiment. Lower doses () of both herbicides in combination with SBWE gave approximately the same level of weed reduction and crop improvement as given by the recommended doses of herbicides. Furthermore, economic and marginal analysis showed that maximum net benefits were obtained in using allelopathic water extracts alone and in combination with lower rates of commercial herbicides. Thus, in conclusion, allelopathy can be employed for weed management and yield maximization in modern agriculture.

Studying the Yield and Yield Parameters of Mungbean in Response to Different Weed-Crop Competition Periods

“…Similarly, this phenomenon was earlier recorded when weeds were controlled early in crop growth stage it gives better yield and yield related parameters whereas, where weeds were remained in competition for longer growth period of crops, response of above-mentioned parameters is reasonably less (Yadav et al, 1983). Weeds are reported as the major yield limiting factor in all the field crops (Farooq et al, 2018;Gopakumar and Menon, 2022).…”