Efficacy of Various Herbicides for Weed Management in Late Sown Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

The research work entitled “Efficacy of various herbicides for weed management in late sown wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)” was carried out during rabi season 2023-2024 at the research farm of Faculty of Agriculture, Mullana, Ambala, Haryana. Weeds are significant biotic constraints that contribute to substantial yield reductions by competing with crop plants for essential resources such as sunlight, water and nutrients. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of various herbicides in controlling weeds in late sown wheat, where shorter growing periods and limited resources intensify weed crop competition. The study aims to identify the most effective treatment for weed suppression and yield improvement. During the experiment the prominent weed flora observed in wheat fields are Phalaris minor (Gulli danda), Avena fatua (Jangli jai), Polypogon monspeliensis, (Chotti ghass) Chenopodium album (Bathua), Cynodon dactylon (Doob), Rumex dentatus (Jangli palak), Melilotus alba (Metha), Cyperus rotundus (Dilla) etc. The experiment was laid out in randomized block designs with three replications, encompassing nine treatments for weed management viz., T1 - PRE pendimethalin 1500 ml ha-1, T2 - PRE pyroxasulfone 125 g ha-1, T3 - PoE 2,4-D (a.e.) 500 ml ha-1, T4 - PoE sulfosulfuron 25 g ha-1, T5 - PoE metribuzin 250 g ha-1, T6 - PoE clodinafop-propargyl 60 g ha-1, T7 - PRE pendimethalin 1500 ml ha-1 fb PoE metribuzin 250 g ha-1, T8 - two hand weeding and T9 - weedy check. The research findings revealed that the herbicidal application of pendimethalin 1500 ml ha-1 fb metribuzin 250 g ha-1 was the most effective treatment in reducing weed density 5.12 (25.18) m-2 and 5.66 (31.03) m-2 and weed dry matter 5.95 (34.37) g m-2 and 7.34 (52.94) g m-2 at 60 and 90 DAS, respectively compared to the other treatments. This treatment significantly enhanced growth parameters recording maximum plant height 63.07 cm, 91.97 cm and 96.33 cm and dry matter accumulation 393.27 g m-2, 773.70 g m-2, 1003.93 g m-2 at 60 DAS, 90 DAS and at harvest, respectively. Moreover, it significantly improved yield attributes including 336.20 m-2 of effective tillers, spike length 8.28 cm, 46.95 grains spike-1, and test weight 39.63 g and recorded the highest grain yield of 48.35 q ha-1 and straw yield of 64.51 q ha-1. Conversely, the weedy check treatment resulted in the highest weed density and weed dry matter and lowest yield attributes and yield.