Effect of Herbicides on Weed Flora, Productivity, and Profitability of Irrigated Wheat

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of herbicide applications on weed interference and the yield of irrigated wheat during the Rabi season of 2021–22 at the research farm of the College of Agriculture, RVSKVV, Gwalior. The experiment was laid out in a randomised block design with ten treatments and three replications. The traits studied included plant height, ear-head length and number, grains per ear head, test weight, grain yield, weed density and dry weight, weed-control indices, and economics. The major weed flora at the experimental site included Phalaris minor (L.) (23.8%) and Eleusine indica (L.) (24.32%) among monocotyledonous weeds, and Chenopodium album (23.42%) and Alternanthera philoxeroides (28.38%) among dicotyledonous weeds. The weedy-check plot had the highest weed density and dry weight. Hand weeding at 25 and 45 DAS significantly reduced weed density and dry weight at 60 DAS. Among the herbicidal treatments, Pendimethalin 30 EC @ 1000 g ai ha−1 PE fb Sulfosulfuron 75% WG @ 30 g ai ha−1 (PoE) significantly reduced weed density and dry weight, followed by Sulfosulfuron 75% WG @ 30 g ai ha−1 + Metsulfuron 20% WP @ 2 g ai ha−1 PoE. Hand weeding at 25 and 45 DAS produced the highest plant height (93.56 cm), ear-head length (8.40 cm), number of ear heads (382.57 m−2), grains per ear head (42.90), test weight (42.90 g), and grain yield (6488 kg ha−1). Among the herbicidal treatments, the sequential Pendimethalin–Sulfosulfuron treatment was the most effective for weed control and achieved the highest net return (Rs 89,860 ha−1). The highest B:C ratio (3.7) was recorded with Pendimethalin alone and with Clodinofop propargyl + Metsulfuron.