Evaluation of Herbicides for Enhancing Yield and Economic Benefits in Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

The research experiment was conducted during November, 2014–May, 2015, November, 2015–May, 2016 and November, 2016–May, 2017 at two locations (HAREC-Bajaura, Kullu and RWRC-Malan, Kangra) in Himachal Pradesh to evaluate different herbicides for effective weed control in barley. This experiment consisting of eleven treatments viz. Pinoxoden 30, 40 and 50 g ha-1, pinoxoden 40 g ha-1+metsulfuron 4 g ha-1 , pinoxoden 40 g ha-1 fb. metsulfuron 4 g ha-1, pinoxoden 40 g ha-1+carfentrazone 20 g ha-1, isoproturon 1000 g ha-1, isoproturon 750 g ha-1+2, 4-D 500 g ha-1, isoproturon 750 g ha-1+metsulfuron 4 g ha-1, weedy and weed free check was conducted in RBD with 3 replications. The results revealed that on pooled basis, at both locations, isoproturon 750 g ha-1+metsulfuron 4 g ha-1 being at par with pinoxoden 40 g ha-1+metsulfuron 4 g ha-1 and pinoxoden 40 g ha-1 fb. metsulfuron 4 g ha-1 resulted in significantly higher barley grain yield, which was equivalent to weed free check. Due to higher yield obtained in plots receiving application of isoproturon 750 g ha-1+metsulfuron 4 g ha-1 at Bajaura and pinoxoden 40 g ha-1+metsulfuron 4 g ha-1 at Malan, had fetched highest net returns and BC ratio. In on-farm trials, where three prominent treatments were tested at different locations of H.P., isoproturon 750 g ha-1+metsulfuron 4 g ha-1 had achieved highest average grain yield of barley.