The Effect of Weed Management Practices on the Growth, Yields and Productivity of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

A field experiment entitled “Effect of weed management practices on growth, yield and productivity of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)’’ was conducted at Agronomy Research Farm of Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh) during Rabi season 2018-2019. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications. There were twelve treatments of weed management practices, namely: T1 - Sulphosulfuron 25g a.i. ha-1; T2 - Metsulfuron 4g a.i. ha-1; T3 - Clodinofop 60g a.i. ha-1; T4 - Metribuzin 210g a.i. ha-1; T5 - Sulphosulfuron+Metsulfuron (30+2) 32 g a.i. ha-1; T6 - Sulphosulfuron+Metribuzin (25+210) 235 g a.i. ha-1; T7 - Clodinofop+ Metsulfuron (60+4) 64 g a.i. ha-1; T8 - Fenoxaprop–p–ethyl 120 g a.i. ha-1; T9 - Fenoxaprop-p-ethyl + Metsulfuron (120+4) 124 g a.i. ha-1; T10 - Two hand weeding at 20, 40 DAS; T11 - Weedy check; T12 - Weed free. From the results, all the growth parameters (or yield attributes) like; higher number of spike (m-2), Length of Spike (cm), number of spikelet Spike-1, Grain per ear head (m-2), and Test Weight (g) plus yields of grain and straw, as well as higher harvest index of wheat obtained were significantly higher under weed free treatment of 52.50 qha-1 followed by under T7 - Clodinofop+ Metsulfuron @ (60+4) 64 g a.i. ha-1 at an obtained yield of wheat is 51.10 qha-1. The highest net return (81054.50 Rs. ha-1) and benefit cost ratio (2.04) was recorded under T7 - Clodinofop + Metsulfuron @ (60+4) 64 g a.i. ha-1. Thus it may be recommended for effective control of weeds and higher production of grain and straw yield in wheat crops.