Weed management in lentil

A field experiment was conducted to explore the feasibility of growing lentil with integration of weed management practices using herbicide, increased plant population and manual weeding at Meerut during 2008-09 and 2009-10. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with four replications and ten treatments. The major weeds in experimental field were Chenopodium album, Phalaris minor, Anagalis arvensis and Convolvulus arvensis were recorded with some other minor weed species. Lowest weed density (4 m 2 ) and dry weight (2.64 g/m 2 ) was recorded where pendimethalin was applied 0.75 kg/ha as PE plus one hand weeding, which was statistically on par with pendimethalin 1.0 kg/ha. Whereas, the highest grain yield of 1662 kg/ha was recorded by pendimethalin 0.75 kg/ha plus one hand weeding, which was statistically at par with weed free as well as pendimethalin 1.0 kg/ha. Increased seed rate of 25% significantly decreased the weed dry weight (32.0%) and increased seed yield (22.8%) in comparison to their respective treatments. On an average of 37.7% yield reduction was recorded due to weed infestation. The highest gross returns of 23,268, net returns of 15,918 and B:C was recorded by pendimethalin 0.75 kg/ha PE + one hand weeding.