Title: Effect of integrated weed-management practices on yield and economics of babycorn (Zea mays)
Abstract: A field experiment was conducted during the rainy (kharif) season of 1999 and 2000 at Almora, Uttaranchal, to work out effective weed-management practices for babycorn (Zea mays L.) cultivation. Fourteen treatments, comprising atrazine @ 0.625 and 1.25 kg/ha, pendimethalin @ 0.75 and 1.50 kg/ha, alachlor @ 1.00 and 2.00 kg/ha and lower levels of these herbicides applied in combination with hand-weeding 30 days after sowing, hand-weeding 15 days after sowing alone and in combination with paraquat at 0.50 kg/ha (30 days after sowing) and earthing up (30 days after sowing), were compared with weed-free and weedy checks. Season-long weed infestation reduced the babycorn yield by 44.0%. All the weed-control treatments improved yield attributes and babycorn and green fodder yield significantly and enhanced monetary returns compared with weedy check. The highest babycorn (1.253 tonnes/ha) and green fodder yield (28.2 tonnes/ha) were recorded under weed-free treatment, followed by comparable yields recorded under hand-weeding 15 days after sowing integrated with earthing up, pre-emergence herbicides at lower levels applied in combination with hand-weeding 30 days after sowing, and pendimethalin @ 1.50 kg/ha and alachlor @ 2.00 kg/ha alone. Remaining treatments recorded considerably lower yields compared with weed-free treatment. All the weed-control treatments recorded considerably higher returns over weedy check, which ranged from Rs 4 010 to Rs 15 576/ha. Highest additional return of Rs 15 576/ha was recorded under pro-emergence alachlor @ 1.00 kg/ha applied in integration with hand-weeding 30 days after sowing, followed by its sole application @ 2.00 kg/ha. Despite highest yield, weed-free treatment recorded considerably lower additional returns due to very high cost involved in treatment application.
Publication Year: 2002
Publication Date: 2002-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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Cited By Count: 14
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