Effect of Irrigation and Sowing Techniques on Weed Dynamics in Alfalfa under South Saurashtra Agro-Climatic Zone of Gujarat, India

Abstract

A field trial was conducted during winter cycle of November to April 2022-23 at Farming system research station, College of Agriculture, JAU, Junagadh to study the effect of irrigation and sowing method on alfalfa. The treatments given were: I1: 0.6 IW/CPE, I2: 0.8 IW/CPE, I3: IW/CPE ratios and two sowing methods, M1: Line sowing and M2: Broadcast. The combination of treatments were tested in split plot design with three replications. The experimental field was heavily infested with mixed flora of sedge, grasses and broad-leaved weeds, viz.  cypers rotundus L., Echinocoloa coloa L., Chinopodium album L., Chinopodium murale L., Digera arvensis L., Commelina benghalensis L., Cleome viscose L., Euphorbia spp. L. Results showed that the irrigation scheduling and sowing method had significant effect on the weed density and dry weight of weed during the study. Significantly higher weed density and dry weight of weed was obtained with broadcasting as compared to line sowing at 25 cm apart.