Influence of Weed Management Practices on Lentil Productivity and Weed Dynamics

Abstract

Weeds are a major constraint in lentil production, competing for nutrients, light, and water, which ultimately reduces yield and its quality. A series of field experiments were conducted to assess how different weed management approaches affect yield and yield components of lentil and weeds’ dry weight over four consecutive years at the Grain Legumes Research Program, Khajura, Banke, Nepal. The study tested various pre-emergence (Pendimethalin, Metribuzin and Oxadiargyl) and post-emergence herbicides (Quizolofop-ethyl), their combinations, and manual weeding practices. Results indicated that weed management had a significant impact on 100-seed weight and seed yield, whereas its effect on traits like days to flowering and maturity, number of pods per plant, and plant height was not significant. The combined results showed that Two-hand weeding (1015 kg ha–1) and One-hand weeding (936 kg ha–1) produced the highest seed yields, while Pendimethalin and Metribuzin-based combinations effectively reduced weed biomass. The herbicide Quizolofop-ethyl alone and un-weeded control plots consistently performed poorly in all parameters. These findings suggest that combining chemical herbicides, particularly pre-emergence, with manual weeding can effectively control weeds and improve lentil productivity.