Economic feasibility of weed management practices in cumin

A field experiment was conducted to find out the economic feasibility of weed management practices in terms of weed dynamics, weed control efficiency and performance of cumin (Cuminum cyminum).The experiment comprised of nine treatments. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications. Major weed flora observed in the experimental field were Plantago pumila, Chenopodium murale, Chenopodium album, Amaranthus viridis, Cyperus rotandus and Phalaris minor. The results revealed that weed free treatments resulted in significantly maximum vegetative growth and seed yield (6.0 q ha−1) of cumin followed by pre emergence application of oxadiargyl @ 75 g ha−1 + one hand weeding at 45 DAS. Among the weed management practices, weed free treatment was most effective in reducing the dry weight of weeds and recorded the highest weed control efficiency (85.94%) followed by preemergence application of oxadiargyl @ 75 g ha−1 + one hand weeding at 45 DAS (78.31%). However, the maximum net returns (46,364.80 Rs.ha−1) and highest benefit: cost ratio of 3.48:1 was obtained in pre-emergence application of oxadiargyl @75 g ha−1 + one hand weeding at 45 DAS among all the treatments including weed free treatment. Thus pre emergence application of oxadiargyl @75 g/ha. + one hand weeding at 45 DAS was found as the best economically feasible practice to keep weed infestation at minimum level and to ensure higher economic yield (5.91 qha−1) in cumin.