Performance of pre and post emergence herbicide against complex weed flora and productivity of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

A field experiment entitled “Performance of pre and post emergence herbicide against complex weed flora and productivity of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)” was carried out at Research Farm of Raj Mohini Devi College of Agriculture and Research Station, Ambikapur (C.G) during Rabi season of 2024-25. The soil of the experimental site was Inceptisols in nature and slightly acidic in reaction and low in available nitrogen, medium in available phosphorus and potassium. The experiment consisted of eight treatments laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. There were eight treatment of weed management vizT₁ - Pendimethalin @ 750 g/ha (PE), T₂ - Pyroxasulfone @ 150 g/ha (PE), T₃ - Clodinafop @ 60 g/h (PoE),T₄ - Pendimethalin @ 750 g/ha (PE) fb Clodinafop @ 60 g/h (PoE),T₅ - Pyroxasulfone @ 150 g/ha (PE) fb Clodinafop @ 60 g/h (PoE), T₆ - Clodinafop + metsulfuron @ 60+4 g/ha (PoE), T₇ - Weed free,T₈ - Weedy check. The wheat cultivar “Kanishka” was sown and harvested on 25^th November 2024 to 23^th March 2025. respectively.

Results of the experiment revealed that the growth and yield attributing characters of wheat like plant population m^-1, plant height cm, number of tillers plant^-1, dry matter accumulation g. m^-1, number of spike tillers^-1, number of grain spike^-1, Test weight (g), Grain yield (q ha^-1), Straw yield (q ha^-1) as well as harvest index (%) were maximum under the treatment T₇- Weed free while it was statistically followed by T₆ - Clodinafop + metsulfuron @ 60+4 g/ha (PoE) and T₅ - Pyroxasulfone @ 150 g/ha (PE) fb Clodinafop @ 60 g/h (PoE).

In the experimental field, Phalaris minor, Cyperus rotundus, Cynodon dactylon, Chenopodium album, Anagallis arvensis, Melilotus indica and other some weeds were dominant. Minimum weed density & weed dry matter and also highest weed control efficiency were found under T₇- Weed free followed by T₆- Clodinafop + metsulfuron @ 60+4 g/ha (PoE) and T₅ - Pyroxasulfone @ 150 g/ha (PE) fb Clodinafop @ 60 g/h (PoE). However, 57.99% reduction in yield of wheat was recorded under T₈- weedy check.

As regards to profitability of the weed management practices, maximum net return (₹ 79,437 ha^-1) as well as B: C ratio (2.11) was achieved under T₆- Clodinafop + metsulfuron @ 60+4 g/ha (PoE) followed by T₅- Pyroxasulfone @ 150 g/ha (PE) fb Clodinafop @ 60 g/h (PoE). The highest energy input was registered under T₇- Weed free, whereas, maximum energy output and energy use efficiency observed under T₆ - Clodinafop + metsulfuron @ 60+4 g/ha (PoE).