Effect of Different Weed Management Practices on Growth, Yield and Economics of Kharif Grain Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the kharif season of 2023 at the Agricultural Research Station in Hagari, Ballari, to assess the effect of different weed management practices on the growth and yield of kharif grain sorghum. The experiment was replicated thrice in randomized complete block design comprising of eleven different treatments. According to the findings, the growth parameters like plant height (138.8 cm), number of leaves per plant (8.9), leaf area (29.1 dm2 plant-1), leaf area index (4.31) and total dry matter production (212.3 g plant-1) at harvest recorded significantly higher with the application of atrazine 50% WP @ 500 g a.i. ha-1 as PE fb metribuzin 70% WP @ 100 g a.i. ha-1 as PoE at 15-18 DAS (T7) treatment. This treatment also recorded higher grain yield (2905 kg ha-1), stover yield (8576 kg ha-1), harvest index (25.3%), gross returns (Rs. 1,19,425 ha-1), net returns (Rs. 80,988 ha-1) and B:C (3.11) when compared with other treatments. Which might be due to, application of atrazine as pre-emergent control weeds in earlier stages of crop and post-emergent application of metribuzin control weeds in later stages of crop growth. The application of atrazine and metribuzin helps in better growth of plant and obtaining the higher grain yield, net returns and B:C found economically feasible.