Weed management in pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan)-sesame (Sesamum indicum) intercropping system in Vindhyan red-loam tract of eastern Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy seasons of 1989 and 1990 to find out the suitable weed-control measures and intercrop population pressure of sesame (Sesame indicum L.) in pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L..) Millsp.] + sesame intercropping system. ?he major weeds of experimental field were Eleusine indica 6.)Gaertn. (20%), Digitaria ciliaris (Retz.) Koeler (18%). Cyperus rotundas L. (20%) and C. iria L. (18%). Pigeonpea intercropped with 100% sesame had the maximum weed-smothering efficiency (36.4%), followed by pigeonpea +75% sesame intercropping system (29.4%). Pigeonpea intercropped with 75% population of sesame was most advantageous over sole crop (46%) and resulted in the maximum pigeonpea-equivalent yield (15.44 qha). Amongst the weed-control treatments, hand-weeding twice at 20 and 40 days after sowing was most effective in minimizing the weed growth, followed by fluchloralin @ 1.0 kgha. Ihe interaction of cropping system and weed-control methcds showed the superiority of pigeonpea + 75% sesame intercropping system in combination with hand-weeding twice at 20 and 40 days after sowing, which was comparable to fluchloralin Q 1.0 kgha in the same intercropping system and pigeonpea + 100% sesame intercropping system with 2 hand-weedings.