Weed dynamics and integrated management in finger millet [Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn]

Weed management plays a crucial role in enhancing the productivity and sustainability of finger millet cultivation, particularly under diverse agro-ecological conditions. A field experiment was conducted at Agricultural Research Station, Bhubaneswar, Odisha to study the effect of weed management practices on weed growth, crop growth and productivity of finger millet during the kharif season of 2023. The experiment included eight treatments combining stale seedbed, closer row spacing, bispyribac-Na, two hand weedings, and a weedy check. These were arranged in a randomised block design with three replications. Twice-hand weeding recorded the lowest weed density (14.0 No./m²) and dry weight (8.0 g/m²), comparable to the stale seedbed method followed by closer spacing (21.8 No./m², 12.9 g/m²). The maximum tiller number, dry matter accumulation, and ear count per square meter were achieved with the two-hand weeding treatment performed at 20 and 40 days after sowing (DAS). This was closely followed by the stale seedbed method combined with closer spacing, as well as closer spacing combined with bispyribac-sodium application. In terms of productivity, the highest yield of 2217 kg/ha was recorded under the two-hand weeding treatment. This yield was statistically comparable to the yields obtained from the stale seedbed technique followed by (fb) closer spacing (2060 kg/ha) and closer spacing fb bispyribac-sodium at 15 g/ha at 15 DAS (1884 kg/ha). In terms of grain yield, twice hand weeding was 7.62% higher than stale seedbed technique fb closer spacing. The next best treatment in maximization of yield was the integrated application of stale seedbed fb bispyribac-sodium (1645 kg/ha) treatment in finger millet. Economic analysis of finger millet exhibited the highest return per rupee invested (2.45) under stale seedbed fb closer row spacing. Integrated weed management using the stale seedbed technique 10 days before sowing followed by 15 cm row spacing proved most effective, offering practical benefits for farmers by ensuring better weed control, enhanced crop growth, higher yields, and improved profitability in finger millet during the kharif season.