Efficacy of weed control treatments on weeds and productivity of chickpea under Jatropha based agroforestry

A field experiment was conducted at Research Farm, Department of Forestry, JNKVV, Jabalpur during Rabi season 2019-20 to find out the effect of weed management on weeds and productivity of Chickpea under Jatropha based Agroforestry. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications and 12 herbicidal treatments consisted of Pendimethalin (1000 g ha-1), Imazathaper (900 g ha-1), Atrazine (1000 g ha-1), Metribuzin (300 g ha-1), Oxyflorfen (100 g ha-1), Pendimethalin (500 g ha-1) fb Imazathaper (450 g ha-1), Pendimethalin (500 g ha-1) fb Oxyflorfen (50 g ha-1), Metribuzin (150 g ha-1) fb Oxyflorfen (50 g ha-1), Atrazine (500 g ha-1) fb Metribuzin (150 g ha-1), Imazathaper (450 g ha-1) fb Atrazine (500 g ha-1), hand weeding (30 DAS) and Weedy check (control). The field was infested with 4 major weed species Medicago denticulata Willd., Vicia sativa L., Cynodon dactylon L., and Cyperus rotundus L. Minimum weed density per m2 (7.53) and weed dry weight (5.42 q ha-1), was found under hand weeding 30DAS over weedy check. Minimum dry weight of weeds was found under hand weeding (30 DAS) 5.42q ha-1 as compare to weedy check (control) 16.84q ha-1). The highest weed control efficiency was found in hand weeding (30DAS) 89.75%, Pendimethalin (1000 g ha-1) 78.50 %, Atrazine (1000 g ha-1) 67.67 %, Oxyflorfen (100 g ha-1) 66.83 %, and Metribuzin (150 g ha-1) fb Oxyflorfen (50 g ha-1) 65.41%. The loss of grain yield was significantly reduced where weeds were control by Pendimethalin (1000 g ha-1) 11.16 %, and Metribuzin (150 g ha-1) fb Oxyflorfen (50 g ha-1) 11.19 %. Amongst the different herbicidal treatments higher seed yield was found under Pendimethalin (1000 g ha-1) 12.54 q ha-1, higher stover yield was found under Pendimethalin (1000 g ha-1) 37.46 q ha-1, higher crop biomass was found under Pendimethalin (1000 g ha-1) 50.00 q ha-1 and higher harvest index was found under Pendimethalin (1000 g ha-1) 24.99 % as compared to other treatments. The perusal data showed that higher harvest index was found under hand weeding (30DAS) 25.06 % which was significantly superior over weedy check (control) 18.74 % and rest of the weed control treatments. Pre emergence herbicides and hand weeding can further enhance the weed suppressive effect of the crop under Jatropha based Agroforestry.