Influence of different herbicides on weed control, nutrient removal and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum)

A field experiment was carried out during 2 winter (rabi) seasons of 200809 and 200910 at New Delhi, to evaluate the efficacy of different herbicides on weed population, productivity and nutrients acquisition of wheat [Triticum aestivum (L.) emend. Fiori & Paol.]. Among the herbicidal treatments, ready-mix applications of mesosulfuron + iodosulfuron (24 + 4.8 g/ha) recorded the lowest weed density and NPK removal by weeds. How- ever, this treatment remained statistically at par with mesosulfuron + iodosulfuron (18 + 3.6 g/ha), sulfosulfuron + metsulfuron (20 + 4 g/ha) and clodinafop + metsulfuron (60 + 4 g/ha). Application of sulfosulfuron and metsulfuron (20 + 4 g/ha) recorded the maximum values of plant height (89.81 cm at harvesting), number of tillers/m (93.39 at harvest), dry-matter accumulation, grain yield (5.23 t/ha) and nutrients uptake (142.4 kg N, 18.90 kg P and 117.23 kg K/ha), which was closely followed by weed-free, mesosulfuron + iodosulfuron (24 + 4.8 g/ha), (18 + 3.6 g/ha) and tank-mix clodinafop + metsulfuron (60 + 4 g/ha).