EVALUATION OF DIFFERENT WEED MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN RAINFED MAIZE ON FARMERS FIELDS

On farm trials were conducted during Kharif 2006 and2007 under rainfed condition at 5 locations in the farmers fieldsof Bijapur district in Karnataka, India to find out the mosteffective weed control measure in maize. The trials were laidout in a randomized complete block (RCB) design with threereplications. Pre-emergence application of alachlor (2.0 kg ha-1), simazine (1.0 kg ha-1) and pendimethalin (1.0 kg ha-1) aloneand in combination with one hand weeding at 30 days aftersowing (DAS), two hand weedings at 20 and 40 DAS, smothercrop (green gram and sunnhemp) and earthing-up werecompared with weed free and weedy check treatments. Datarevealed that two hand weedings at 20 and 40 DAS provedmost effective followed by alachlor 2.0 kg ha-1 + hand weedingat 30 DAS. These treatments reduced the weed density andweed biomass significantly, which in turn increased yieldcompared with weedy check. The highest grain yield of 36.50and 36.12 q ha-1 was recorded under weed free treatmentduring 2006 and 2007, respectively, which was at par with twohand weedings at 20 and 40 DAS. Maximum net return IRs14450 (US$325) was obtained under weed free treatment,however, highest benefit: cost ratio (2.68) was recorded underearthing-up and two hand weedings at 20 and 40 DAS.