Vol. 11, Issue 7 (2022)

Author(s):
Abhijit Mani and Ambreesh Singh Yadav

Abstract:
The experiment was conducted in randomized block design with ten weed management treatments involving various herbicides (acetochlor @ 1.125, 2.25 and 4.5 kg a.i. ha^-1, atrazine @ 1.0 kg a.i. ha^-1, pendimethalin @ 0.5 kg a.i. ha^-1 + atrazine @ 0.5 kg a.i. ha^-1, alachlor @ 0.5 kg a.i. ha^-1 as pre-emergence and 2,4-Diethyl ester @ 0.6 kg a.i. ha^-1 and topramezone @ 0.04 kg a.i. ha^-1 + atrazine @ 0.25 kg a.i. ha^-1 as post-emergence including weed free and weedy check replicated thrice. Among the weed control treatments, post-emergence application of topramezone @ 0.04 kg a.i. ha^-1 coupled with atrazine @ 0.25 kg a.i. ha^-1 recorded significantly lower weed index and higher weed control efficiency. Weed free treatment recorded significantly higher grain and stover yields than weedy check. Weed free treatment recorded significantly higher grain and stover yields (83.1 and 140.4 q ha^-1) and was significantly superior over rest other herbicide treatments except topramezone @ 0.04 kg a.i. ha^-1 + atrazine @ 0.25 kg a.i. ha^-1 and acetochlor @ 4.5 kg a.i. ha^-1 which exhibited statistical parity among themselves. Yield attributing parameters of maize also followed the similar trends, in which topramezone @ 0.04 kg a.i. ha^-1 coupled with atrazine @ 0.25 kg a.i. ha^-1 exhibited parity with acetochlor @ 4.5 kg a.i. ha^-1. From the results of the present study, it can be concluded that application of topramezone @ 0.04 kg a.i. ha^-1 coupled with atrazine @ 0.25 kg a.i. ha^-1 both as post-emergence herbicides can be recommended in winter maize for enhancing crop yield and yield attributes, more weed control efficiency and less weed index.