Weed Management in Millets- A Holistic Approach

Abstract

Millets are the traditional staple food of dry land regions and have the potential to contribute substantially for food, fodder and the nutritional security. The millets are relatively poor competitors against weeds especially during the early growth stages due to their slow initial growth and wider spacing. Yield loss due to weeds in millets varies from 5 to 94 per cent depending on climatic, edaphic and biotic factors. Weeds compete with crops for nutrients, soil moisture, sunlight and space when they are limiting, resulting in reduction in yield, quality and increased cost of production. The objective of this paper is to review the research that have been conducted pertaining to various aspects of weed management in millets. The literature suggests that instead of relying on any single method of weed control, all the feasible methods are to be integrated for the effective and sustainable management of weeds in millets. Integrated weed management can effectively overcome the problems of weed shift and development of resistance in weeds and reduce the weed seed bank and manage the weeds below the economic threshold level to avoid any economic loss.

Integrated Weed Management in Minor Millets: A Review

“…In minor millets the herbicide recommendations have been limited. Sneha and Raj [24] concluded that Saflufenacil (Kixor) @ 0.05 kg/ha as Pre emergence and 2,4-D (Weedar) @ 0.50-0.75 kg/ha as Post emergence in proso millet, Oxadiazone (Ronstar) @ 0.75-1.0 and Butachlor (Mechete) @ 0.75 kg/ha as Pre emergence in finger millet, Isoproturon (Arelon) @ 0.50-0.75 kg/ha as Pre emergence in Finger mille and kodo millet, Propazine (Propinex)@ 0.28-0.56 kg/ha as Pre emergence in Proso millet are recommended herbicides in minor millets. Atrazine was the most commonly used preemergence herbicide for weed control in millets.…”

“…Chemical method is the most viable method of weed control in crops. However, rely on chemicals alone for weed management is not advisable due to its ill effects on environment and development of herbicide resistance in weeds (Sneha and Raj [24]). To effectively address this challenge, it is imperative to diminish reliance on singular or limited weed control methods.…”