Vol. 11, Special Issue 6 (2022)

Author(s):
Peddola Vinay Kumar and Dr. Barkha

Abstract:
Rapeseed-mustard is a significant edible oilseed crop in India. Productivity has grown as a result of technological advancements in rapeseed-mustard production. However, several biotic stressors, such as weeds, cause significant output losses of up to 45 percent in rapeseed-mustard. They lower crop yield and quality by competing for nutrient availability, water, land, and light resources, and they also have an impact on the agro ecosystem. These crops are affected by a variety of weeds, although the level of harm in terms of productivity and resources varies by region. Many weeds are crop and/or region-specific. Orobanche aegyptiaca, for example, has become a severe danger in rainfed areas of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Haryana, while Chenopodium, Asphodelus, Melilotus, and Trianthema spp. cause considerable yield losses in other location. Unlike other oilseed crops, mustard is more susceptible to weed competition in the early phases of development, particularly between 20 and 40 days after sowing. Weed control in mustard is accomplished both by cultural and herbicidal methods. Different dinitroaniline herbicides are routinely employed to eradicate weed species, and the majority of them are only effective against a limited number of weed species. Thus, combining herbicide at crucial development phases with one or two hand weeding at the appropriate time to optimise crop weed suppression yields a large increase in crop production. Fluchloralin and pendimethalin, alone or in conjunction with manual weeding, were shown to be the most cost-effective 30 days after planting.