Effect of weed management methods on growth and yield of finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn) cultivars

A field experiment was carried out during kharif -2019, at Experimental Farm, Department of Agronomy, School of Agricultural Sciences, Nagaland University, Medziphema to evaluate the effect of different weed management practices on growth and yield of finger millet varieties.The experiment was laid out in split plot design with five main plot treatments and four sub-plot treatments (W1 -Control, W2 -Pre-emergence application of Pendimethalin 30 EC @ 1 kg a.i ha -1 at 2-3 DAS + one hoeing at 25-30 DAS, W3 -Pre-emergence application of Pendimethalin 30 EC @ 1 kg a.i ha -1 at 2-3 DAS + plastic mulching at 10-15 DAS and W4 -Pre-emergence application of Pendimethalin 30 EC @ 1 kg a.i ha -1 at 2-3 DAS + 2, 4-D 80 WP @ 0.75 kg a.i ha -1 at 25-30 DAS) each replicated thrice.Results revealed that among varieties V4 -VL 376 recorded significantly higher growth parameters, yield parameters, grain yield (1789.82 kg ha -1 ) and straw yield (4959.00 kg ha -1 ).Among weed management practices treatment W4 -Pre-emergence application of Pendimethalin 30 EC @ 1 kg a.i ha -1 at 2-3 DAS + 2, 4-D 80 WP @ 0.75 kg a.i ha -1 at 25-30 DAS, recorded higher growth, grain yield (1619.30 kg ha -1 ) and straw yield (4099.62 kg ha -1 ) with minimum weed density (2.51 and 12.40 m -2 at 40 and 60 DAS) and maximum weed control efficiency (84.93 and 83.42% at 40 and 60 DAS).Predominant weed flora found in the experimental plot were Amaranthus viridis, Ageratum haustorianum, Cyperus rotundus, Cynodon dactylon, Euphorbia hirta and Digetaria Sanguinalis.While, the lowest weed index was noticed under the treatment W2 -Pre-emergence application of Pendimethalin 30 EC @ 1 kg a.i ha -1 at 2-3 DAS + one hoeing at 25-30 DAS.