Assessment of critical period of crop-weed competition in forage cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and its effect on seed yield and quality
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59797/ija.v63i1.5391Keywords:
Competition, Cowpea, Critical period, Quality, Seed yield, Weed-free, Weedy-checkAbstract
An experiment on crop-weed competition was conducted during the rainy (kharif) season of 2014 at Karnal, Haryana, to determine the critical period of forage cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] and its effect on seed yield and quality. Dominated weed species associated with the crop were Trianthema monogyana L., Commelina benghalensis L. and Digera arvensis Forssk. among broad-leaf weeds; and Cyperus rotundus L., Echinochloa colona L., among narrow leaf weeds. Seed yield of cowpea reduced significantly with increase in the duration of crop-weed competition beyond 20 days after sowing (DAS). The seed yield increased significantly with the increase in initial duration of weed-free condition up to 60 days after sowing (DAS) which was at par with 80 DAS and season-long weed-free situation. Critical period of crop-weed competition was found to be between 25–57 days after sowing. Higher net returns and benefit: cost ratio can be realized keeping the crop weed free for first 60 DAS.
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