Effect of integrated weed management on growth and yield of irrigated groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

A field experiment was carried out at Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar of Chidambaram taluk, Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu during January – April 2023 to study the “Integrated weed management of irrigated groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)”. The study included ten treatments, a randomised block design, and three replications. The treatments that produced the highest values of yield components at harvest, such as kernel yield, pod yield and growth parameters were the two hand weeding treatments on 20 and 40 DAS (T₂) and it was on par with the pre-emergence application of pendimethalin 1.0 kg a.i. ha^-1 at 3 DAS followed by the post-emergence application of quizalofop 100 g a.i. ha^-1 at 21 DAS (T₄). This was followed by (T₆) Groundnut shell cover mulch @ 2000 kg ha^-1 followed by Early Post-emergence (Sodium acifluorfen) 900 g a.i. ha^-1 on 15 DAS. The unweeded control (T₁) had the largest biomass and weed counts, which led to an extremely low grain yield. This experiment observed that, twice hand weeding on 20 and 40 DAS (T₂) and it was on par with Pre emergence application of pendimethalin 1.0 kg a.i. ha^-1 at 3 DAS followed by post emergence application of quizalofop 100 g a.i. ha^-1 at 21 DAS (T₄) was the most effective weed control technique, increasing yield production and growth and reduce the nutrient uptake by weeds and higher economic returns from irrigated groundnut.