Vol. 11, Issue 6 (2022)

Author(s):
Kethavath Shivudu Nayak

Abstract:
The field experiment entitled “Influence of nitrogen levels and weed control methods on the growth of kharif maize (Zea mays L.) and associated weeds”. was carried out during kharif 2021 at Agronomy research farm, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab. Fifteen treatment combination of three levels of nitrogen (150 kg N/ha, 125 kg N/ha and 100 kg N/ha.) in main plots and five weed control treatments viz., T1: Laudis 42% SC (tembotrione) 100g a.i/ha, post emergence, T2: Atrazine 1.0 kg a.i/ha, pre-emergence followed by hand weeding, T3: Black polythene mulch, T4: Two hand weedings, T5: Unweeded (control) in sub plots. The experiment was laid out in in Split Plot Design with four replications. Results showed that significantly low weed count and dry matter accumulation was observed in two hand weeding and black mulch treatments as compared to un-weeded (control). Among nitrogen levels highest weed count (1sq.m) and dry matter (q/ha) were found in 150 kg N/ha which was at par with 125 kg N/ha. In case of yield attributes cob girth, cob length and 1000 seed weight were significantly higher in two hand weeding and atrazine 1.0 kg/ha, pre- em. f.b hand weeding as compared to un-weeded control plots. The grain yield in 150 kg N/ha (58.1 q/ha) was significantly superior when compared to 100 kg N/ha which was at par with125 kg N/ha (57.8 q/ha). In sub plot treatments, significantly higher grain yield was recorded in two hand weeding (60.19 q/ha) and integrated weed management treatment i.e. atrazine pre-em. f.b hand weeding (58.1 q/ha) when compare to other weed control treatments. stover yield in nitrogen levels of 150 kg N/ha (137.82 q/ha) was at par with 125 kg N/ha (134.2 q/ha) and both these treatments were significantly superior to 100 kg N/ha. In case of weed control treatments, Stover yield in two hand weeding (151.56 q/ha) and atrazine 1.0 kg a.i/ha, pre-emergence followed by hand weeding (123.28 q/ha) was significantly higher than other weed control treatments.