Nutrient utilization by winter maize (Zea mays) and weeds as influenced by integrated weed management

An experiment was carried out during the winter seasons of 1998-98 and 1999-2000 at Pusa with 14 weed- management practices to study the nutrient-depletion patterns by winter maize (Zea mays L.) and associated weeds. Amongst the weed-management practices, nutrient depletion by weeds was minimum under hand-weed- ing and maximum (22.97 kg N, 4.87 kg P20, and 27.57 kg K20/ha) in weedy condition, whereas total nutrient up- take by winter maize was maximum (169.41 kg N, 55.67 kg, P20, and 60.77 kg K20/ha) under the treatment alachlor + French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) as smother crop followed by hand-weeding (137.70 kg N, 44.15 kg P20, and 106.22 kg, K20/ha). The nutrient uptake by crop in weedy condition was least. Chemical weeding checked nutrient drain by weeds significantly compared with weedy check.