2,4-D Amine salt, 2,4-D Na salt, Atrazine, Integrated Weed Management, Pendimethalin, Metribuzin, Sugarcane
Weeds are opportunistic plants causing serious yield reduction in sugarcane production, so management of unwanted vegetation is of paramount importance for sugarcane cultivation. With this objective, an experiment was planned at Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari (Gujarat) to assess the various weed management strategies including agronomical, mechanical/physical and herbicides on weeds and yield of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum). The experiment comprised of 14 treatments (two control i.e. weedy check and weed free along with herbicides, viz. atrazine, pendimethalin, metribuzin. 2,4-D Na salt and 2,4-D amine salt and their combination in-between as well as with cultural practices) laid out in randomized complete block design replicated thrice. The weed flora of experimental site during Kharif season was alienated with 60% broad-leaf weeds and 40% grassy weeds. Among broad-leaf weeds, Phyllanthus maderaspatensis, Alternanthera sessilis, Euphorbia hirta, Digera arvensis, Physalis minima, Convolvulus arvensis and Trianthema portulacastrum were found as dominant. While, among grassy weeds Eragrostis major, Brachiaria reptans, Echinochloa colonum, Cynodon dactylon, Digitaria sanguinalis and Commelina benghalensis, were the major weeds, whereas there was only one dominating sedge i.e. Cyperus rotundus. The results showed all the weed management practices significantly produced higher sugarcane yield over weedy check and HW at 30, 60 and 90 DAP + IC at 45 and 90 DAP was found significantly superior, being at par with application of pre-emergence herbicides i.e. atrazine or metribuzin fb HW+IC at 60 DAP which recorded lowest weed density, weed dry matter, weed index and maximum weed control efficiency. The presence of weeds reduced cane yield about 49.8% in comparison to HW+IC (weed free). In addition to this, application of pre-emergence herbicides followed by post-emergence herbicides or smoother crop (sunnhemp) was also found remunerative.