Vol. 11, Issue 9 (2022)

Author(s):
Rupesh Deshmukh, Shrikant Chitale and Rakesh Kumar Dhanwani

Abstract:
A field experiment was conducted on maize during the rabi season of 2019-20 and 2020-21 at the Instructional Cum Research Farm, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur (C.G.). The experiment laid out in split plot design with three replication. Three fertility levels viz. 75%, 100% and 125% RDF are assigned to main plot and eight weed management practices viz. W₁ - Atrazine 1000 g ha^-1 as PE, W₂ - Tembotrione 120 g ha^-1 as PoE, W₃ - Atrazine 750 g ha^-1 as PE fb Tembotrione 90 g ha^-1 as PoE, W₄ - Atrazine 750 g ha^-1 as PE fb Metsulfuron-methyl 4.0 g ha^-1 as PoE, W₅ - Straw mulch 5.0 ton ha^-1 after emergence of crop, W₆ - Live mulch with green gram up to 45 days then incorporation, W₇ - Mechanical weeding (wheel hoe) at 20 and 40 DAS, W₈ - Weedy check were assigned to sub plot. The soil of the experimental field was clayey in texture (Vertisols) locally known as “Kanhar”. The soil was neutral in reaction. The available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content were low, medium and high. Maize F₁ hybrid “DKC-9081” was taken as test crop during the course of investigations. It’s a high yielding variety with robust and uniform cobs. Among fertility levels significantly higher grain yield (71.2 q ha^-1), stover yield (126.5 q ha^-1), gross returns (₹ 1, 35,218 ha^-1), net returns (₹ 1, 03,849 ha^-1) and benefit: cost ratio (3.31) were recorded with 125% RDF. Among weed management practices (W) i.e. (W₃) application of pre-emergence atrazine 750 g ha^-1 at 3-5 DAS fb tembotrione 90 g ha^-1 as PoE was found most effective against grassy and non-grassy weeds as compared to other weed management treatments, resulting into the higher grain yield (75.10 q ha^-1), stover yield (130.00 q ha^-1), gross returns (₹ 1,34,510 ha^-1), net returns (₹ 1,03,777 ha^-1) and benefit: cost ratio (3.38). Total uptake of nutrients for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (201.30, 71.00 and 200.50 kg ha^-1_, respectively) was significantly higher under F₃ - 125% RDF and minimum total nutrient uptake by crop was observed under F₁ -75% RDF. The increased concentration and yields of grain and stover in above treatments enhanced the uptake of nutrients in maize. In case of weed management practices, total uptake by crop of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (187.1, 61.0 and 200.5 kg ha^-1_, respectively) was significantly higher in (W₃) application of pre-emergence atrazine 750 g ha^-1 at 3-5 DAS fb tembotrione 90 g ha^-1 as post emergence and minimum uptake of nutrient by crop observed by (W₈) weedy check.