Integrated weed management in finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted entitled 'Integrated weed management in finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.)' to standardise weed management practice in finger millet and to assess the economics during the rabi season (2023) at the Instructional Farm II, Karuvacheri, College of Agriculture, Padannakkad; with 10 treatments and 3 replications. The treatments being T1 – pre-emergence application of bensulfuron methyl + pretilachlor @ 660 g ha-1 (PEM), T2 –T1 + Hand weeding (HW) at 20-25 DAS, T3 – T1 + mulching, T4 – T1 + post emergence application of bispyribac sodium @ 25 g ha-1 (POEM) at 20 DAS, T5 – POEM at 20 DAS + HW (40 DAS), T6 – mulching + POEM (20 DAS), T7 – mulching + HW (25 DAS), T8 – HW (20 and 40 DAS), T9 – mulching alone, T10 – weedy check/control. Higher value for plant height, number of tillers hill-1, leaf area index and total plant dry matter was recorded by PEM + POEM (T4) on par with PEM + mulching (T3). These treatments could also impart significant positive impact for different weed control parameters viz. weed density, weed dry weight and weed control efficiency (WCE). Highest grain yield (1333 kg ha-1) and straw yield (1926 kg ha-1) and lowest weed index was recorded by T4 on par to T3. Nitrogen uptake also recorded significant variation among the treatments. B: C ratio and net returns were comparable for T4 and T3. Pre-emergent herbicide application delayed the emergence of weeds during the initial period of crop growth and further weed emergence could be managed by the application of post emergent herbicide and mulching in T4 and T3 respectively. Even though chemical weed management delivered better results for various parameters, IWM was equally effective in managing diverse life cycles and survival strategies of weeds. Hence, pre-emergent application of bensulfuron methyl + pretilachlor followed by mulching could be recommended as an effective weed management strategy for finger millet as sole dependence on herbicides may lead to excess use, resistance development etc. Hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS was also proved to be an effective weed management strategy in finger millet. However, cannot be recommended as it is not economically feasible due to high cost of labour.