Effect of sowing date and weed management techniques on yield attributes and yield of blackgram (Vigna mungo L.)

A field experiment was conducted on effect of sowing date and weed management techniques on yield attributes and yield of blackgram (Vigna mungo L.) during Kharif -2016 at Raj Mohini Devi College of Agriculture and Research Station, Ajirma, Ambikapur (C.G.). The treatment comprises three date of sowing (S1- 15th July, S2- 25 July and 05th August) and four weed management techniques (W1- Control plot, W2- mechanical weeding at 15 and 30 DAS and removal of weeds within row by hand, W3- Pendimethalin @ 0.75 liter a. i. ha-1 at 0-2 DAS + mechanical weeding at 30 DAS W4- Pendimethalin @ 0.75 liter a. i. ha-1 at pre-emergence + sodium acifluorfen (16.5%) + clodinafop- propagyl (8%) EC @ 0.245 liter a. i. ha-1 at 20-25 DAS) respectively laid out in split plot design with three replications (Main plot consists – date of sowing and sub plot – weed management techniques). The result reveled that treatment combination of first date of sowing (S1) with application of two mechanical weeding (W2) at 15 and 30 DAS is more yield attributes and yield production followed by date of sowing 15th July with application of pendimethalin @ 0.75 liter. a.i. ha-1 at 0-2 DAS + mechanical weeding at 30 DAS. It was due to higher number of pods plant-1, pod length (cm), number of seeds pods-1, pod weight plant-1(g), 100 seed weight (g), seed yield (q ha-1), stover yield (q ha-1), biological yield (q ha-1).