Effect of tillage and tank-mix herbicide application on weed management in chilli (Capsicum annuum)

A field experiment was carried out at New Delhi during 2012 and 2013 to investigate the effect of tillage and tank-mix herbicide application on growth, yield, and nutrient uptake of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.). Conventional and zero tillage resulted in comparable weed density, dry weight, chilli fruit yield, fruit length and plant height. Tank-mix pre-emergence application of pendimethalin 0.75 kg/ha + imazethapyr 0.075 kg/ha was next to weed- free check and superior to all the other weed-control treatments in reducting the weed density. Uptake of N, P and K by chilli plants was comparably higher in weed-free check and tank-mix pre-emergence application of pendimethalin 0.75 kg/ha + imazethapyr 0.075 kg/ha. Conversely, N, P and K uptake by weed was significantly higher in weedy check, and the lowest amount of these nutrients after weed-free check was observed in pendimethalin 0.75 kg/ha + imazethapyr 0.075 kg/ha. All the weed-control treatments resulted in significantly higher chilli fruit yield than to weedy check; however, the tank-mix pre-emergence application of pendimethalin 0.75 kg/ha + imazethapyr 0.075 kg/ha resulted in 180% higher chilli fruit yield over weedy check. Similarly, chilli fruit yield was increased by 5.2% in zero tillage over conventional tillage and by 18.2% in the second year over the first year.