Cultural and chemical weed control in bajra (Pennisetum americanum (L) K. Schum.).

Weed control studies in hybrid pearl millet (BJ-104) were carried out in India during kharif seasons of 1976 and 1977 at Haryana Agricultural University, Hissar. Effect of various treatments, including weed-free, hand weeding up to 2,4,6 and 8 weeks of sowing and application of atrazine at pre-emergence at the rate of 0.5 and 0.75 kg a. i./ha and 2,4-D sodium salt at post-emergence at the rate of 1.0 and 1.5 kg a. i./ha on the growth and grain yield were studied. It was observed that weed-free treatment gave highest yield of grain and fodder per hectare followed by atrazine 0.5 kg a. i. in both years. Atrazine at 0.5 kg a. i./ha also gave satisfactory yields; these were significantly superior to the weedy control and weeding up to 2 weeks, but significantly less superior to atrazine 0.5 and 0.75 kg a. i./ha. From an economic point of view, atrazine at 0.5 kg a. i./ha gave the highest net profit per hectare as compared to other treatments in both years.ADDITIONAL ABSTRACT:In trials in 1976-7 with P. typhoides [=P. americanum] kept free of weeds throughout the growth period or up to 2-8 wk after sowing or given pre-em. application of 0.5-0.75 kg atrazine a.i./ha or post-em. application of 1-1.5 kg 2,4-D a.i./ha, grain and stover yields were the highest on weed-free plots, followed by those given 0.5 kg atrazine/ha