Comparative Analysis of Herbicide Treatments for Optimizing Pearl Millet Fodder Production in Pakistan

Background: Weeds significantly challenge crop production by competing for essential resources. Chemical weed control has emerged as an effective method for optimizing fodder production in pearl millets. Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.), known for its drought tolerance, has the potential to enhance food security, but is susceptible to abiotic and biotic factors. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of various herbicides on weed control and green fodder yield in the kharif season pearl millet. Methods: The study was conducted at the Fodder Research Sub-station, Faisalabad, in 2023 and 2024 using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. Treatments included pre-emergent applications (Stomp 330EC, Primextra 500FW, Atrax 90WG, and Dual Gold 960EC), post-emergent applications (Primextra 500FW, Atrax 90WG), manual hoeing, and a control. Results: post-emergent application of Atrax 90WG at 300 g/ha yielded the highest green fodder production (64.00 t/ha), whereas the control treatment produced the lowest yield (44.00 t/ha), highlighting the significant impact of effective weed management on pearl millet fodder production.