Effect of weed control and sulphur on yield of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) and their residual effect on summer greengram (Phaseolus radiatus)

Abstract

An experiment was conducted during 1993-94 and 1994-95 to study the effect of weed control and sulphur levels on yield of lndian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czernj. & Cosson] and their residual effect on succeeding summer greengram (Phaseolus radiatus L.). All weed-control practices resulted in significantly reduced density and dry matter of weeds infesting crop of lndian mustard. Pre-emergence application of oxadiazon 0.5, oxyflurofen 0.125 pendimethalin 0.75, isoproturon 0.5 kglha and hand-weeding 30 days after sowing increased seed yield by 72.3,59.6,55.3,45.7 and 59.6% during 1993-94 and by 67.4,55.6,50.0,42.4 and 55.6% during 1994-95 over the weedy check (9.4 and 10.6 qlha respectively). Application of sulphur @ 60 kglha increased the seed yield by 22.9 and 29.7% over the control (12.2 and 12.8 qlha) during 2 years. Weed dry matter at 30 days, yield attributes and yield of succeeding summer greengram crop remained unaffected by weed-control practices of preceding crop. Application of 60 kg Slha to lndian mustard resulted in 19.3 and 30.0% increase in yield of succeeding greengram over the control (9.25 and 8.29 qlha).