Effect of weed management practices on nutrient content and their uptake by maize crop (Zea mays L.)

To evaluate the Effect of weed management practices on nutrient content and their uptake by maize crop (Zea mays L.), a field experiment was conducted during the kharif of 2023 at Research Farm of School of Agriculture, Abhilashi University, Chail Chowk, Mandi (H.P.). The field experiment was carried out in a randomized block design with three replications and eight treatments viz., T1= Weedy check, T2= Weed free, T3= Atrazine @1.5 kg a.i. ha-1 (PE), T4= Metribuzin @700 g a.i. ha-1 (PoE) (20 DAS) + One hand weeding (35 DAS), T5= Topramezone @25 g a.i. ha-1 (PoE) (20 DAS), T6= Atrazine @ 0.75 kg ha-1 (PE) + Pendimethalin @ 0.75 kg ha-1 (PE) fb 2,4-D @ 0.75 kg ha-1 (PoE) (35 DAS), T7 = Twice hand weeding (20 and 45 DAS) and T8= Straw mulching @ 5 t ha-1. The various weed management practices showed the non-significant differences to content of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in grains and stover of the maize crop, however, the uptake of these nutrients was affected significantly by various weed management practices during field experiment. Among the all weed management treatments, weed free (T2) recorded maximum nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content in grains and stover of maize crop, whereas, the statistical differences were non-significant. The weed free treatment (T2) recorded significantly highest uptake of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium by grains and stover as well as total uptake by maize crop, which was statistically at par with treatment T6 Atrazine @ 0.75 kg ha-1 (PE) + Pendimethalin @ 0.75 kg ha-1 (PE) fb 2,4-D @ 0.75 kg ha-1 (PoE) (35 DAS) and T7 Twice hand weeding (20 and 45 DAS). However, the minimum nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium content in grains and stover and their uptake by maize crop was recorded under the treatment T1 (Weedy check).