Productivity and economics of rice-zero till maize as influenced by weed management practices in southern Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh

A field experiment was conducted on sandy clay loam soil of Andhra Pradesh during kharif and rabi seasonsics of rice-zero till maize cropping system. The results showed that the rejuvenation of rice stubbles in the sequence crop of rabi maize were more in early harvested than late harvested rice varieties and reverse was the trend in weed growth. Among herbicide treatments, use of paraquat as pre-emergence application for controlling rejuvenation of rice stubbles in zero-till maize was superior to pre-emergence application of atrazine and no-herbicide treatment. On the other hand pre-emergence application of atrazine was more effective in controlling first flush of weeds than paraquat and no-herbicide treatment. Herbicide treatments, consequent to termination of rice stubble and weed competition, promoted plant growth, dry matter production, nutrient uptake, yield structure and yield of maize and consequently productivity and economics of the system as compared to no-herbicide treatment. Rice-zero till maize irrespective of the herbicide supplementation gave higher rice equivalent yield, net returns and benefit of cost when compared to existing rice-pulse sequence. However, soil fertility status and microbial status of the rice-maize cropping system was no match to the existing system of rice-pulse sequence and herbicide treatments did not exhibit any detrimental effect on microbial population. of 2006-07 and 2007-08 on the effect of weed management practices on the productivity and economy.