WEED MANAGEMENT IN POTATO-tUNDER DRY TEMPERATE AGRO- ECOSYSTEM (HP)

Field experiments were carried out to assess the efficacy of different herbicides on potato from 1996 to 1998 at Highland Agricultural Research and Extension Centre, Kukumseri (HP). Atrazine and pendimethalin were more effective on broadleaf weeds whereas alachlor, metolachlor and isoproturon were more effective on grassy weeds. Pre-emergence application of metolachlor 1.5 kg/ha recorded the highest tuber yield (265.9 q/ha) which was at par with atrazine 0.0-1.25 kg/hal, isoproturon (1.25-1.5 kg/ha), alachlor 1.5 kg/ha, pendimethalin 1.2 kg/ha and fluchloralin 1.35 kg/ha. Application of atrazine 1.25 kg/ha, isoproturon (1.25-1.5 kglha), metolachlor 1.5 kg/ha and pendimethalin 1.2 kg/ha proved significantly better than twice hand weeding and hoeing. Uncontrolled weed growth caused 55.3, 47.2 and 45.7 per cent reduction in tuber yield as compared to the application of metolachlor 1.5 kg/ha, hand weeding twice and farmers' practice, respectively.