Vol. 14, Issue 12 (2025)

Author(s):
P Supriya, A Sundari and S Kalaisudarson

Abstract:
A comprehensive field investigation was carried out during the kharif season 2021 (July-October) to study the effect of weed management practices in irrigated maize. The experiment was conducted in randomized block design with nine treatments and replicated thrice. The treatments includes T₁-Unweeded control, T₂-Twice hand weeding on 20 and 40 DAS, T_3-Pre emergence Oxyfluorfen 23.5% EC @ 0.2 kg ha^-1 on 3 DAS, T_4-Pre emergence Oxyfluorfen 23.5% EC @ 0.2 kg ha^-1 on 3 DAS + One hand weeding on 30 DAS, T_5-Pre emergence Oxyfluorfen 23.5% EC @ 0.2 kg ha^-1 on 3 DAS + Post emergence Tembotrione 34.4% SC @ 100 g ha^-1 on 21 DAS, T_6-Pre emergence Oxyfluorfen 23.5% EC @ 0.2 kg ha^-1 on 3 DAS + Intercrop with black gram, T_7-Pre emergence herbicide Oxyfluorfen 23.5% EC @ 0.2 kg ha^-1 on 3 DAS + Mulching with sugarcane trash on 21 DAS, T_8-Intercropping alone and T_9-Mulching alone on 21 DAS. The results of the study showed that pre emergence herbicide oxyfluorfen 23.5% EC @ 0.2 kg ha^-1 on 3 DAS + intercrop with black gram registered less weed count, weed biomass, higher weed control index and grain yield. This can augment the hybrid maize productivity with sizeable economic gains and without any significant losses on soil health.