Response of wheat (Triticum aestivum) to weed management practices and nitrogen levels

A field experiment to evaluate response of wheat (Triticum aestivum) to weed management practices and nitrogen levels was conducted during winter seasons of 2007–08 and 2008–09 at Sardarkrushinagar, Gujarat. Sowing conditions did not affect growth and yield attributes, yields and dry weight of weeds in wheat. Significant variation in growth parameters, yield attributes, and grain and straw yields of wheat was recorded with nitrogen levels. Higher numbers of effective tillers per meter row length and spike length were recorded with the application of 150 kg N ha−1, which reflected in improvement in grain (42.03 q ha−1) and straw yields (63.66 q ha−1) of the crop. Weed free treatment and weedy check were recorded higher and lower grain and straw yields, respectively. All the herbicides recorded significantly lower dry weight of weeds at harvest over weedy check. Among the herbicides, metsulfuron-methyl (0.004 kg ha−1) + 2, 4-D (0.4 kg ha−1) and isoproturon (0.5 kg ha−1) + 2, 4-D (0.4 kg ha−1) were more effective in reducing dry weight of weeds. Maximum weed control efficiency (83.36%) was registered with isoproturon + 2, 4-D, followed by metsulfuron-methyl + 2, 4-D (82.96%). The treatments comprising 150 kg N ha−1 and application of isoproturon + 2, 4-D had higher net return ( 37558 and 41569 ha−1) and benefit: cost ratio (3.07and3.41), respectively, which is attribute to higher yields with these treatments, thus enhancing the net returns.