Effect of Integrated Weed Management on Yield, Quality and Economics of Summer Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.)

A field experiment was conducted at College Farm, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari (Gujarat) during summer season of the year 2016 under south Gujarat. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications and ten treatments with pre and post emergence herbicides (Atrazine, 2, 4-D and metsulfuron methyl) alone or combination of these herbicide followed by hand weeding and inter-culturing operation. Two hand weeding and inter-culturing operation at 20 and 40 DAS recorded significantly higher grain (3302.67 kg/ha) and straw (7638.67 kg/ha) yields. However, grain and straw yield was remained at par with treatments T8 i.e. Atrazine @ 0.50 kg /ha as PE fb Atrazine @ 0.50 kg/ha PoE 25 DAS fb HW and IC at 40 DAS (2936.67 kg/ha, 7374 kg/ha) and T9 i.e. Atrazine @ 0.50 kg/ha as PE fb 2, 4-D @ 0.50 kg/ha as PoE at 25 DAS fb HW and IC at 40 DAS (2867 kg/ha, 7274 kg/ha) respectively. The maximum net returns ( 54,623 per ha) was realized under the treatment of two hand weeding and inter-culturing operation at 20 and 40 DAS followed by treatments T4 i.e Atrazine @ 0.50 kg/ha as PE fb atrazine 0.50 kg/ha as post emergence (PoE) at 25 DAS ( 50,179). However, the maximum gross returns ( 88,969 per ha) was recorded with treatment T2 i.e. two hand weeding and inter-culturing operation at 20 and 40 DAS followed by T8 i.e. Atrazine @ 0.50 kg /ha as PE fb Atrazine @ 0.50 kg/ha PoE 25 DAS fb HW and IC at 40 DAS ( 80,855). Whereas, the maximum B:C was recorded under the treatment T4 i.e. Atrazine @ 0.50 kg/ha as PE fb atrazine 0.50 kg/ha as post emergence (PoE) at 25 DAS (2.88).