EFFECT OF WEED MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON YIELD ATTRIBUTES AND WEED BIOMASS OF URDBEAN (VIGNA MUNGO L.) IN VERTISOLOF CHHATTISGARH PLAINS

Abstract

Background: A field experiment was carried out during the kharif seasons of 2021 and 2022 at the Instructional-cum-Research Farm of Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur (C.G.). The experimental soil was clayey (Vertisol), neutral in pH, medium in organic carbon, low in available nitrogen and phosphorus, and high in available potassium.
Methods: The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with three replications, comprising eight treatments: T₁–Imazethapyr 10% SL (55 g a.i. ha⁻¹), T₂–Fluazifop-p-butyl 13.4% (250 g a.i. ha⁻¹), T₃–Propaquizafop 2.5% + Imazethapyr 3.75% ME (ready-mix, 83.3 g a.i. ha⁻¹), T₄–Acifluorfen-sodium 16.5% EC + Clodinafop-propargyl 8% EC (ready-mix, 210 g a.i. ha⁻¹), T₅–Fomesafen 11.1% + Fluazifop-p-butyl 11.1% (ready-mix, 440 g a.i. ha⁻¹), T₆–Hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS, T₇–Weed-free (hand weeding at 20, 40, and 60 DAS), and T₈–Unweeded control.
Results: The dominant weed flora at the site included Echinochloa colona, Dinebra retroflexa, Parthenium hysterophorus, Celosia argentea, and Cyperus spp. Among the treatments, T₅ (fomesafen + fluazifop-p-butyl) recorded the highest yield attributes, which were statistically at par with T₃ (propaquizafop + imazethapyr) and T₄ (acifluorfen-sodium + clodinafop-propargyl). These treatments also significantly reduced weed biomass compared to others. Furthermore, they exhibited higher weed control efficiency (WCE) and lower weed index than the unweeded control (T₈).