Weed Management with New Generation Herbicides in Rabi Lentil in Sub-mountainous Area of Reasi District

In rabi, 2017–18, a field study was carried out at KVK, Reasi, SKUA&T, Jammu & Kashmir to assess the effectiveness of five herbicides applied alone, in combination with mechanical weeding (MW), or in sequence to study the effects of the herbicides on weed control and production economics of lentil variety L4147 (Pusa Ageti). Three replications of the experiment were conducted using completely randomized block design having six treatments with three replications. The treatments included T1:Weedy check (control), T2: Weed free, T3: Hand Weeding at 30 DAS and 45 DAS (Khurpi), T4: Quizalofop-p-ethyl 5% EC @ 50 g ai /ha at 40 DAS, T:5 Imazethapyr 10% SL at 40 DAS @ 37.5 g ai /ha, T6: Chlorimuron ethyl 25% WP (PPI) @ 4 g ai/ha and T7: Pendimethalin 30% EC (PE) @ 1 kg ai/ha. The most successful approach for controlling weeds, after weed free, was two hand weeding (HAND WEEDING), according to the results. However, at 60 DAS, two hand weedings at 30 DAS and 45 DAS produced the dry matter accumulation and lowest density of all weed species, followed by pendimethalin and Imazethapyr (post-emergence/POE). Under two hand weeding, the highest weed control efficiency of 83% was attained, and this was followed by Imazethapyr at 40 DAS. But under weed-free conditions, the maximum yield (1365 kg /ha) as well as the highest pods per plant (66.07), seeds per pod (1.94) and nodules per plant (8.20) were observed. Two hand weeding was then applied at 25 and 40 DAS. Pendimethalin greatly lowered broad leaved weeds but only moderately controlled grasses and sedges, while it was still better than control when applied alone. In contrast, Imazethapyr significantly suppressed both broad and grasses. When it came to the economic component, two-hand weeding outperformed all other treatments, including control, with the highest net returns, benefit cost ratio (~42294.49 /ha and 2.8), and lowest weed index (2.8). It was discovered that this combined treatment was the most profitable and long-lasting weed control method for lentils.