Effective of Chemical Weed Control on Growth and Yield of Mulberry (Morus indica L.)

A field study carriedout in Red sandy c1ay loam soil at Bangalore to evaluate the efficacy of herbicides for the control of weeds in mulberry garden. The weed biomass was significantly reduced with the application of metolachlor 1.5 kg/ha and diuron 1.25 kg/ha followed by alachlor 1.5 kg, butachlor 1.5 kg and pendimethalin 1.5 kg/ha whereas the response to other treatments was moderate. As a consequence of better weed control the significant increase in growth parameters and leaf yield were obtained with herbicides at higher doses. Leaf yield recorded during kharif and rabi season was significaritly higher with diuron 1.25 kg/ha which was at par with metolachlor 1.50 kg/ha and significantly superior to all other herbicidal treatments.