Effect of Herbicides on Weed Dynamics, Grain Yield and Economics of Rabi Maize

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out at the District Seed Farm (AB-Block) of Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Kalyani, West Bengal during rabi season of November 2022 to March 2023 to assess the effect of weedicides to control weeds in rabi maize. Randomized Block Design was used to set up the experiment, which included nine weedicides and three replications. The findings showed that the weed free plot had the lowest weed density and dry weight of grassy, sedge, and broadleaf weeds. The pre-emergence application of atrazine @ 750 g ha-1 followed by topramezone @ 25.2 g ha-1 at 25 DAS had low weed density and dry weed biomass which was statistically equivalent to the application of topramezone @ 25.2 g ha-1 + atrazine @ 750 g ha-1 at 15 DAS. The weed free treatment had the highest weed control efficiency (46.65). Lowest weed index (8.10) was recorded in atrazine @ 750 g a.i ha-1 followed by topramezone @ 25.2 g a.i. ha-1 at 25 DAS which exhibited the maximum benefit cost ratio. Pre-emergence application of atrazine @ 750 g ha-1 followed by topramezone @ 25.2 g ha-1 at 25 DAS and topramezone @ 25.2 g ha-1 + atrazine @ 750 g ha-1 at 15 days after sowing were found to be most effective in controlling weeds in maize with higher benefit cost ratio.