Integration of Weed Management Strategies for Economic Viability in Blackgram (Vigna mungo L.) Under North Gujarat Conditions

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during July-October 2023 at Agronomy Instructional Farm, Department of Agronomy, Chimanbhai Patel College of Agriculture, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, Gujarat, India to study the efficacy of early post-emergence herbicides against weeds in blackgram crop. Twelve treatments replicated thrice were used in randomized block design. Among different weed management practices, weed-free recorded significantly higher seed and stover yield (1077 and 2657 kg ha^-1, respectively). Next to weed-free, significantly higher seed and stover yields were observed in interculturing followed by hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS (960 and 2258 kg ha^-1, respectively) as a result of the markedly reduced densities of sedges, grasses, broadleaf weeds and overall weed population and was found at par with post-emergence application of imazethapyr+imazamox at 50 (25+25) g ha^-1 fb interculturing at 40 DAS (932 and 2224 kg ha^-1, respectively) and imazethapyr+imazamox at 60 (30+30) g ha^-1 fb interculturing at 40 DAS (916 and 2169 kg ha^-1, respectively). Whereas, imazethapyr+imazamox at 50 (25+25) g ha^-1 fb interculturing at 40 DAS recorded higher net returns (` 43941 ha<sup>-1</sup>) followed by interculturing followed by hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS (Rs. 43111 ha<sup>-1</sup>) and imazethapyr+imazamox at 60 (30+30) g ha<sup>-1</sup> fb interculturing at 40 DAS (` 42010 ha^-1). The same treatments were also witnessed remarkable improvements in energy-related parameters such as net energy returns, energy productivity and energy use efficiency.