Productivity and profitability of groundnut under different crop establishment methods and weed management practices

A field experiment was conducted during the Kharif season of 2019 and 2020 at Research Farm, Rajasthan Agricultural Research Institute, Durgapura, Jaipur (Rajasthan) to studies on different land configuration, mulching and weed management on growth, yield and quality of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.). The experiment consisted of 20 treatment combinations, main plot treatment consists of four land configurations and mulch viz., flat sowing without mulch, flat sowing with mulch, broad bed and furrow system without mulch and broad bed and furrow system with mulch, however sub plot consist five weed management treatments, viz. control, two hand weeding at 25 and 45 DAS, pendimethalin @ 750 g a.i./ha PE fb hand weeding at 25 DAS, pendimethalin + imazethapyr (ready mix) @ 1.0 kg a.i./ha PE fb hand weeding at 25 DAS and pendimethalin @ 750 g a.i./ha PE fb imazethapyr @ 40 g a.i./ha PoE were evaluated in split plot design and replicated thrice. Result indicates that the lowest weed density, dry weight of weed and highest pod yield was recorded under crop sown with broad bed and furrow system with mulch. Among weed management practices, 2 hand weeding at 25 and 45 DAS recorded significantly higher reduction in total weed density and dry weight of weed coupled with highest weed control efficiency, pod yield as compared to weedy check, pendimethalin 38.7 CS @ 750 g a.i./ha PE fb imazethapyr @ 40 g a.i./ha PoE, pendimethalin 38.7 CS @ 750 g a.i./ha PE fb hand weeding at 25 DAS, however it was found at par with pendimethalin 30 EC + imazethapyr 2 EC (ready mix) 1.0 kg a.i./ha fb hand weeding at 25 DAS during both the year of experimentation.