70(1)2025 Weed management in wheat as influenced by different rice residue management practices in rice-wheat cropping system

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to study the influence of rice residue management practices on weed dynamics and management practices in wheat crop during rabi 2019-20 and 2020-21 at Ludhiana, Punjab. Results revealed that population and biomass of different weeds at 60 days after sowing was lower under Happy seeder (zero tillage with residue retention) as compared to other rice residue management practices. Lower plant population and biomass of Phalaris minor were recorded under application of pinoxaden 50 g a.i./ha as compared to metsulfuron plus carfentrazone 25 g a.i./ha and weedy plot, but found statistically at par with metribuzin plus clodinafop 260 g a.i./ha. Weed population and biomass of dicot weeds (Rumex dentatus and Medicago denticulata) was recorded lowest under metsulfuron plus carfentrazone 25 g a.i./ha and metribuzin plus clodinafop 260 g a.i./ha as compared to pinoxaden 50 g a.i./ha and weedy plot. The interaction of rice residue management practices and weed management treatments indicated that Happy seeder sowing is effective in reducing density and biomass of weeds even in weedy plots. Crop growth parameters (plant height, tillers density and biomass) were significantly influenced by weed management practices. The highest grain yield was recorded under Happy Seeder as compared to other residue management system. The results suggested that grass weeds can be controlled with application of pinoxaden 50 g a.i./ha in wheat under in-situ residue managed plots, whereas for fields with dominance of broad leaf weeds application of metsulfuron plus carfentrazone 25 g a.i./ha can be used for weed control. However, under in-situ residue management wheat fields with both monocot and dicot weed population, use of metribuzin plus clodinafop 260 g a.i./ha might be the solution in rice-wheat cropping system.