Abstract:
The present study was conducted to understand the effect of different
weed management techniques i.e., hoeing, h~rbicides and intercropping systems
on weed control, yield and quality of sugarcane. The field experiment was
conducted at Anjanile, Chittur taluk of Palakkad district during 2002-03.
Herbicide treatments were atrazine 2 kg ha-I as pre-ernergence (PE) fb hoeing and
earthing up at 90 DAP, oxyfluorfen 0.20 kg ha' as pre-emergence (PE) fb 2,4-0,
ametryn 2.0 kg ha' as PE fb 2,4-0 and' glyphosate I kg ha-I at 20 OAP fb 2,4-0
at 60 OAP. The intercropping treatments consisted of blackgram incorporation at
45 DAP, sunhemp incorporation at 45 OAP and its bhusa incorporation, daincha
desiccation by 2,4-D, and sunhemp desiccation by 2,4-0.
. .
The major weed species in this experiment were Portulaca oleracea.
Mollugo pentaphylla. Trianthema portulacastrum and Ageratum conyzoides.
The population as well as dry matter production of weeds could be effectively
controlled by the pre-emergence application of atrazine, ox.yfluorfen or ametryn
fb 2,4-0 and also by growing sunhemp or daincha as intercrops. Higher weed
. control efficiency and lower weed indices could be observed for herbicides, the
atrazine and oxyfloufen; and for incorporation of balackgram, daincha or
sunhernp. Pro-emergence herbicides and sunhcmp incorporation treatments gave
better growth and yield parameters. In terms of cane production, oxyfluorfen
0.20 kg ha-I as pre-emergence fb 2,4-0 at 45 OAP and atrazine 2.0 kg ha-I fb
hoeing and earthing up at 90 OAP werefound better.
The overall results indicates that the weed problem in sugarcane could be
effectively controlled by growing sunhernp as intercrop and incorporating it at 45
OAP or by spraying pre-ernergence herbicides viz., oxyfluorfen 0.20 kg ha-I as
pre-ernergence (PE) fb 2,4-D. Among the intercrops, sunhemp incorporation at
45 DAP was found to be the best one. In terms of B:C ratio, sunhemp
incorporation gave the highest value fb oxyfluorfen and 2,4-0. The results of
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the study throws light. on the effective and economic weed control in sugarcanc
by herbicides or .intercrops, which could replace hand hoeing, which is a costly
affair. Considering the green matter addition and eco-safe weed control, growing
sun hemp would be more preferable,