Abstract:In the year 2022, a research study was conducted at the Agricultural Research Field of Sage University in Bhopal, focusing on Rabi crops. The experiment employed a randomized block design (RBD) with seven distinct treatments, each of which was replicated three times. These treatments included variations of two herbicides: pendimethalin (at rates of 0.40 and 0.60 kg a.i./ha) and imazethapyr (at rates of 40 and 60 g a.i./ha), both applied in pre- and post-emergence stages. Additionally, there were control groups, namely a weedy check and a weed-free treatment.
The most successful weed management strategy emerged from the sequential application of pre- and post-emergence herbicides, specifically pendimethalin at a rate of 0.60 kg a.i./ha (PE) and imazethapyr at 60 g a.i./ha at 20 days after sowing (DAS). This treatment demonstrated superiority over other weed management approaches, as it resulted in significantly higher seed yields, greater weed control efficiency, and a lower weed index. Interestingly, this treatment performed on par with the combination of pre- and post-emergence herbicides, which consisted of pendimethalin at 0.60 kg a.i./ha (PE) and imazethapyr at 40 g a.i./ha at 20 DAS (T6) throughout all stages of crop growth.
While the weed-free treatment achieved the highest seed yield and exhibited significant effectiveness compared to other weed management strategies, it was statistically equivalent to the performance of treatment T6.