Assessing the Effect of Weed Management Practices on Weed Flora, Growth and Yield of Fodder Maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Research Farm, AICRP on Forage Crops, Department of Agronomy, JNKVV, Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh) during of the year 2019. The main objective of the experiment was to find out the effect of different weed control treatments on complex weed flora in fodder maize. Ten treatments were tested in randomized block design with three replications. Treatments consisted of pre-emergence application of atrazine 1000 g/ha, pendimethalin 750 g/ha, atrazine 750 g/ha + pendimethalin 750 g/ha and post emergence application of 2, 4-D 500 g/ha, tembotrione 120 g/ha, topramezone 35 g/ha, tembotrione 120 g/ha + atrazine 250 g/ha, topramezone 35 g/ha + atrazine 250 g/ha, hand weeding twice at 20 and 40 DAS and weedy check. Weed intensity and dry matter accumulation by weeds were recorded species wise and then the effectiveness of weed management and the weed control efficiency were calculated. In maize field, the predominated weeds were Echinochloa colona, Commelina communis, and Digitaria sanguinalis among monocots, Phyllanthus niruri and Eclipta alba among dicots along with a respectable sum of numerous minor weeds. Experimental results indicated that hand wedding has recorded highest weed control efficiency (88.64%) followed by PoE application of topramezone 35 g/ha + atrazine 250 g/ha (74.38%) and tembotrione 120 g/ha + atrazine 250 g/ha (68.31%). All weed control treatments significantly affected the plant height, LAI, stem girth and leaf: stem ratio of crop. Among different herbicidal treatments, topramezone 35 g/ha + atrazine 250 g/ha was found significantly superior and gives highest green fodder yield (47.26 t/ha), dry fodder yield (13.64 t/ha), crude protein yield (1.51 t/ha), net monetary returns (Rs. 44824/ha) and B: C ratio (2.72). Thus, herbicide application of topramezone 35 g/ha + atrazine 250 g/ha was found more reliable to control complex weed flora of fodder maize with higher green fodder yield and net returns.