Effective Weed Control and Fiber Yield Improvement in Jute Through Seeding and Row Spacing Strategies

The production of jute fiber is seriously threatened by weeds, both in terms of quantity and quality, because they compete with it for vital resources, including sunlight, water, and nutrients. The present study was conducted at the Jute Agriculture Experimental Station (JAES) of the Bangladesh Jute Research Institute (BJRI) in Manikganj during 2019 to assess the effects of various seed rates and line-to-line spacing on weed dynamics and fiber yield of BJRI Tossa jute variety O-9897. A two-factor factorial experiment was implemented using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Five seed rates (4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 kg ha-1) and four-line spacings (15, 20, 25, and 30 cm) were tested. SDR. The results revealed twelve weed species, with Cyperus rotundus exhibiting the highest summed dominance ratio (SDR) of 53.22%, followed by Digitaria sanguinalis (9.98%) and Echinochloa colonum (9.55%). Interaction effects of seed rate and line spacing significantly influenced weed density, with the highest densities recorded at the lowest seed rate (4 kg ha-1) and widest spacing (30 cm). Conversely, the lowest weed densities were observed at the highest seed rate (8 kg ha-1) and narrowest spacing (15 cm). Yield data collection included plant density, plant height, base diameter, and fiber and stick yields, which were later converted to metric tons per hectare. Economic analysis, based on labor costs and market prices, demonstrated the cost-effectiveness of treatments, while Principal Component Analysis (PCA) further elucidated weed management impacts. These findings contribute to optimizing jute cultivation practices by balancing weed suppression and maximizing fiber yield under various agronomic conditions.