Effects of weed management practices on yield and economics of black gram (Phaseolus mungo)

Abstract

A field investigation was carried out during Kharif season in 2010 at Agronomy Department Farm, Dr.Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola,to evaluate the effect of four herbicides (imazethapyr, pendimethalin,fenoxyprop-p-ethyl and quizalofop -p-ethyl) applied at different rates with different time of application (pre-emergence,post emergence and combination of both) and cultural practices on weeds .The experiment was laid out in randomized block design replicated three times with thirteen treatments. The results revealed that the application of Pendimethalin @ 1.5 kg a.i./ha as pre-emergence application recorded lowest weed dry weight (2.01), Higher Weed control efficiency (87.42), Lowest weed index (20.46) and significantly higher yield (10.02q/ha),followed by Pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg a.i./ha as pre-emergence application and twice hand weeding on 15 and 30 days after sowing (DAS).Among all the weed control treatments, weed free treatment recorded highest (48410 Rs/ha and 35356 Rs/ha) gross monetary returns and relative net monetary returns in black gram. Pre-emergence application of pendimethalin @ 1.5 kg/ha(29368)as well as @ 1.0 kg/ha (29570) and post emergence application of fenoxyprop-p-ethyl @ 0.125 kg/ha (29502) followed by cultural practices of two hand weedings at 15 and 30 days after sowing (24607) were found effective in increasing the seed yield and relative net monetary returns of black gram. Benefit : cost ratio was observed highest under post-emergence application of fenoxyprop-p-ethyl @ 0.125 kg/ha(4.10) among all the weed control practices.