Effect of pre- and post-emergence herbicides on growth and yield of chia (Salvia hispanica L.)

A field experiment was conducted during Rabi seasons of 2021-22 and 2022-23 at Research Farm of Dr. B.R. Choudhary Agricultural Research Station, Mandor, Agriculture University, Jodhpur with an objective of identifying suitable weed management practices in chia crop. The treatments comprised of post-emergence application (PoE) of bentazon 500 g/ha and 750 g/ha at 30 days after seeding (DAS), fluazifop–p-butyl 100 g/ha and 200 g/ha PoE at 30 DAS, pre-emergence application (PE) of sulfentrazon 50 g/ha and 75 g/ha, pendimethalin 200 g/ha and 400 g/ha PE, weed free and weedy check. A randomized block design with three replications was used. Bentazon 750 g/ha PoE recorded significantly lower total weed density, total weeds biomass, and maximum weed control efficiency (12.4, 83.4, 79.7 and 85.4 % at 30, 60, 90 and at harvest, respectively) with minimum reduction in yield due to weed competition. Among pre-emergence herbicides, sulfentrazon 75 g/ha and pendimethalin 400 g/ha were found statistically equally effective in controlling weeds in chia. It was concluded that bentazon 750 g/ha PoE can be used for managing weeds in chia.