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Brown manuring optimization in maize: impacts on weeds, crop productivity and profitability

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2020

T. K. Das
Affiliation:
Division of Agronomy, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
S. Ghosh*
Affiliation:
Division of Agronomy, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
C. P. Nath
Affiliation:
Division of Crop Production, ICAR-Indian Institute of Pulses Research, Kanpur, India
*
Author for correspondence: S. Ghosh, E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Field experiments were carried out in order to investigate if brown manuring (BM) using Sesbania plants can be used to control weeds in maize, especially Cyperus rotundus (Experiment I), and further to optimize the BM technology through appropriate Sesbania seed rate (S), 2,4-D application time (T) and dose (D) (Experiment II). Each BM treatment received a pre-emergence application of pendimethalin 1.0 kg a.i./ha. Experiment I showed that the BM practice using 15 kg/ha Sesbania seed and 2,4-D 0.50 kg a.i./ha applied at 25 DAS led to better control of weeds, especially C. rotundus and higher maize grain yield. Further optimization studies (Experiment II) indicated that among the factors S, T and D, the BM combination S~25 kg/ha, D~0.50 kg a.i./ha and T~25 DAS (i.e. S25T25D0.50) resulted in lowest weed density (3.1/m2) and dry weight (3.8 g/m2) and highest weed control index (89.2%) at 60 days after sowing (DAS) which was at par with another BM practice S15T25D0.50. However, the later BM combination led to significantly higher maize productivity (5.25 t/ha) and profitability (net returns (NR) $878/ha), which were 103 and 280% higher, respectively, than the weedy check (WC). The Sesbania seed rate S~15 kg/ha gave 7% higher maize grain yield and 12% higher NR than its corresponding level S~25 kg/ha. Therefore, Sesbania BM with 15 kg seeds/ha and 2,4-D at 0.50 kg a.i/ha applied at 25 DAS can be recommended for effective and eco-friendly weed management in maize, which would provide higher maize grain yield and enhance farmers' profitability.

Type
Crops and Soils Research Paper
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2020

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Footnotes

*

Present address: ICAR-Directorate of Onion and Garlic Research, Pune, India.

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