Studies on Chemical Weed Management Practices on Growth and Yield of Blackgram Vigna mungo (L.)

An investigation was carried out at Zonal Agricultural Research Station, Kalaburagi, University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur during kharif 2021-22 entitled studies on chemical weed management practices on growth and yield of blackgram Vigna mungo (L.). The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with nine treatments and three replications. Among all the treatments, hand weeing at 25-30 DAS, recorded significantly lower weed density, higher weed control efficiency that favoured higher growth and yield parameters. Whereas, among the chemical weed management practices, application of sodium acifluorfen 16.5% + clodinafop propargyl 8% EC @ 1.0 kg a.i. ha-1 at 20-25 DAS as post emergent recorded significantly lower weed population (2.71/0.25 m2), lower weed dry weight (1.53/0.25 m2) and higher weed control efficiency (90.31 %) compared to other chemical weed management treatments. The treatment sodium acifluorfen 16.5% + clodinafop propargyl 8% EC @ 1.0 kg a.i. ha-1 at 20-25 DAS as post emergent also recorded significantly higher growth parameters viz., plant height (40.18 CM), number of branches (9.18), and dry matter production at harvest (23.50 g plant-1) and yield components viz., number of pods plant-1 (46.69 ), number of seeds pod-1 (7.89), 100 seed weight (4.7 g), seed yield (1059 kg ha-1) compared to other treatments. Significantly higher net returns (Rs.48,406) were recorded in hand weeding at 25-30 DAS and intercultivation at 45 DAS, which was on par with application of sodium acifluorfen 16.5% + clodinafop propargyl 8% EC @ 1.0 kg a.i. ha-1 at 20-25 DAS (Rs.45,066 ha-1). The higher benefit cost ratio was recorded with application of sodium acifluorfen 16.5% + clodinafop propargyl 8% EC @ 1.0 kg a.i. ha-1 at 20-25 DAS (3.08) followed by hand weeding at 25-30 DAS and intercultivation at 45 DAS.