Effect of different weed management practices in urdbean (Vigna mungoL. Hepper) under sub-tropical rainfed conditions of Jammu, India

Field experiment was conducted to find out the effect of pre plant incorporation (PPI), pre (PE) and post-emergence (POE) herbicides along with cultural weed control and weedy check on yield, yield attributes of urdbean crop (Uttara) under rainfed conditions. Twelve treatments consisting of one PPI (Chlorimuron ethyl), one PE (Pendimethalin), four POE herbicides (Imazathypr, Quizalofop ethyl, Fenoxaprop ethyl and Chlorimuron ethyl) along with hand weeding at 20 and 40 days after sowing and weedy check (control) and weed free treatment were tested in randomized block design. The results revealed that significant reduction in total weed density and weed biomass were observed in weed free treatment, two hand weedings (20 and 40 DAS) and Imazathypr 40 & 25 g/ha at 20 DAS which were at par; and significantly superior than weedy check treatment and hence resulted in significant improvement in yield attributing characters viz. plant height, branches/plant, pods/plant, grains/pod, seed and straw yield than the other treatment combinations and weedy check treatment during the period under study. Grain yield obtained with Imazathypr (POE) 40 and 25 g/ha 20 DAS was 45.4 and 39.0 per cent higher over the control. Maximum crop growth rate (CGR) was observed in weed free, HWs followed by Imazathypr (POE) 40 and 25 g/ha at 20 DAS to the tune of 3.3, 3.3, 3.0 and 2.8 g/m2/day. The grain and straw yield and yield attributes were highly negatively correlated with weed infestation and weed biomass.