Bio-efficacy of pre-emergence herbicides on weed management in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

A field experiment was carried out during Rabi, 2023 at Agriculture college farm, University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur, Karnataka, India. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications and seven pre emergence herbicidal treatments and two checks (weedy and weed free check) different treatments. The results of the experiment revealed that among the pre emergence herbicide treatments, application of S- Metolachlor @ 3840 g a.i. ha-1 had resulted in lower density of all categories of weeds, higher weed control efficiency, lower weed index and higher yield parameters which was statistically on par with same herbicide at its moderate doses of 2400 g a.i. ha-1 and 1920 g a.i. ha-1. Hence, S-Metolachlor @1920 g a.i. ha-1 could be used as an effective weed management practice in chickpea.