Performance of pre-emergent herbicide weed management practices on productivity and weed control efficiency in soybean (Glycine max L.)

A field experiment was conducted to assess the effect of pre-emergent herbicides on yield and yield attributes of soybean at Agriculture College Farm, UAS Raichur, during kharif, 2023. The experiment was laid out in RCBD with three replications. The experiment consisted of 10 treatments consisting of 4 pre-emergence herbicides (Fomesafen + S-Metolachlor, Fomesafen + Quizalofop ethyl, Pendimethalin and Diclosulum) and they were compared with weedy check and weed free check. The results revealed that among all the treatments weed free check recorded significantly a greater number of pods (51.67 plant^-1), higher seed weight per plant (11.07 g), seed yield (2325 kg ha^-1), haulm yield (3802 kg ha^-1), net returns (₹ 77,463 ha^-1) and benefit cost ratio (3.27). Conversely, weedy check recorded significantly lesser number of pods (13.83 plant^-1), lower seed weight per plant (2.77 g), seed yield (914 kg ha^-1), haulm yield (1838 kg ha^-1), net returns (₹ 15735 ha^-1) and benefit cost ratio (1.56). Among herbicide treatments, application of Fomesafen 11.385% + S-Metolachlor 51.783% EC @ 3790 g a.i. ha^-1 recorded significantly a greater number of pods (48.83 plant^-1) higher seed weight per plant (10.00 g), seed yield (914 kg ha^-1), haulm yield (1838 kg ha^-1), net returns (₹ 70,304 ha^-1) and benefit cost ratio (1.56). The lower number of pods (33.07 plant^-1), seed weight per plant (6.10 g), seed yield (1151 kg ha^-1), haulm yield (2497 kg ha^-1), net returns (₹ 26,721 ha^-1) and benefit cost ratio (1.94) were recorded with the application of Fomesafen 11.385% + Quizalofop ethyl 3% SC @ 225 g a.i. ha^-1.