WEED MANAGEMENT STUDIES IN WHEAT-VEGETABLE INTERCROPPING SYSTEM AND PLANTING PATTERNS

A field experiment was carried out to assess the weed management studies in wheat-vegetable intercropping system and planting patterns at the Research Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Gomal University D. I. Khan, Pakistan during winter season 2009-2010. Randomized complete block with sixteen treatments replicated thrice. Wheat variety Sahar was planted at seeding rate of 125 kg ha-1 . Experiment was conducted during winter 2009 and recommended doses of farm yard manure and NPK were applied. Statistical analysis of the data revealed that highly significant (P.0.01) differences were observed for biological yield, grain yield, weeds density, fresh and dry weed biomass. Among the planting geometries, single row sole wheat depicted maximum biological (13.93 t ha-1) as well as grain yield (5.173 t ha-1). The highest reduction in weed density was recorded in treatment having 4 row strip wheat + 2 row onion. Similarly dry weed biomass was also highly significantly (P.0.01) reduced by 4 row strip sole wheat + 2 row onion. The instant results suggest that intercropping in wheat could be used as a viable weed management approach.