Impact of Various Weed Control Methods on Weed Density, Weed Control Efficiency, and Seed Yield in Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out during the rabi season of 2021-22 at the Instructional Farm of Agronomy, RCA, MPUAT, Udaipur. The study utilized a Factorial Randomized Block Design with 20 treatment combinations and three replications. The experiment tested ten chemical weed management practices in factor A, including three different concentrations of pendimethalin (500 g ha-1, 750 g ha-1, and 1000 g ha-1, applied pre-emergence), three concentrations of imazethapyr (50 g ha-1, 60 g ha-1, and 70 g ha-1, applied post-emergence), and three combinations of pendimethalin and imazethapyr (500 g ha-1, 750 g ha-1, and 1000 g ha-1, applied pre-emergence). A control group with no herbicide application was also included. Additionally, hand weeding at 40 days after sowing (DAS) and a control treatment were considered as factor B. The experimental results indicated that hand weeding at 40 DAS significantly reduced weed density and achieved the highest weed control efficiency with maximum grain yield. Among the chemical treatments, the combination of pendimethalin and imazethapyr at 1000 g ha-1 PE recorded the lowest total weed density and maximum grain yield and weed control efficiency. This result was comparable to the treatments with pendimethalin + imazethapyr at 750 g ha-1 PE and 500 g ha-1 PE. Overall, HW at 40 DAS and application of pendimethalin + imazethapyr 1000g ha-1 PE could be more productive, and capable for reducing weed population.