Use of pre and post emergent herbicides for better weed control, higher seed yield and economics of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

A field experiment was conducted during rabi season, 2022-23 and 2023-24 at Zonal Agricultural Research Station, Kalaburagi, (Karnataka) to assess the ‘use of pre and post emergent herbicides for better weed control, higher seed yield and economics of chickpea’. The soil of experimental site was medium black clay in texture having alkaline pH of 8.4, bulk density 1.33 g/cc and with organic carbon content 5.2 g kg^-1. The soil was medium in nitrogen (178 kg ha^-1), low in phosphorus (22 kg ha^-1) and medium in potassium (328 kg ha^-1). The results of the experiment revealed that among the herbicides used, application of oxyfluorfen 150 g fb quizalofop-p-ethyl @ 100 g a.i. ha^-1 at 15-20 DAS indicated significantly lower weed density and dry weight of weeds (4.37 & 5.07; 3.70 g & 4.60 g plant^-1 at 30 and 45 DAS respectively) and recorded significantly higher growth parameters viz., plant height (35.21 cm), number of branches (4.68) and dry matter production (17.36 g plant^-1), yield parameters viz., number of pods plant^-1 (28.01) seed weight per plant^-1 (9.79 g), 100 seed weight (21.19 g plant^-1), haulm yield (3271 kg ha^-1) and harvest index (35.18%) finally yielding higher seed yield (1775 kg ha^-1) over other herbicide treatments. The treatment registered significantly higher weed control efficiency (68.61% & 59.97% at 30 and 45 DAS) and weed index (5.57) along with higher gross returns (₹.91032), net returns (₹.66567), and B:C ratio (3.72). However weedy check recorded significantly higher weed density and weed dry weight but revealed lower growth and yield parameters. Among all the treatments, weed free check recorded significantly lower weed density, weed dry weight and significantly higher growth and yield attributes finally resulting in significantly higher yield (1881 kg ha^-1) and economics (₹.96570, ₹.70803 and 3.83 gross returns, net returns and B:C ratio respectively).