Chemical weed management in wheat (Triticum aestivum) using ready-mix and tank-mix herbicides

A field experiment was conducted at the Bichpuri, Agra, Uttar Pradesh during the winter (rabi) seasons of 2011–12 and 2012–13, to evaluate the effect of different grass and broad-leaf herbicides as sole and ready-mix application on weed control in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Ready-mix application of herbicides proved better than their alone application in suppressing weed number and dry weight. Application of sulfosulfuron + metsulfuron (25 + 4 g/ha) resulted in the highest weed-control efficiency (WCE) as well as herbicide efficiency (HEI) and lowest weed index of 94.8%, 2.97 and 3.3 respectively. The highest grain and stover yield of 4.05 and 6.39 t/ha were obtained from weed-free treatment, although this remained statistically at par with sulfosulfuron + metsulfuron (25 + 4 g/ha) and both the treatments resulted in an increase of 34.6 and 30.2% in grain yield as compared to weedy check respectively. The highest net returns ( 43,200/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (2.40) were obtained with ready-mix application sulfosulfuron metsulfuron (25 + 4 g/ha) among the tested herbicide treatments.