Coriander, weed management, nutrient management, nutrient uptake, weed control efficiency
A field experiment was conducted at Udaipur during 2002-03 and 2003-04 with 11 weed and three nutrient management practices to study the effect on growth, yield and quality of coriander (Coriandrum sativum). Weed management practices significantly reduced weed density, dry matter and nutrient uptake by weeds and improved growth (plant height), yield attributes (umbels/plant and weight of seeds/umbel), seed and biological yield, quality parameters (essential oil content and oil out turn) and nutrient uptake by crop as compared to control. Two hand weedings (HW) at 30 and 45 DAS resulted in maximum reduction in weed density, dry weight and nutrient depletion by weeds and gave the highest seed (1.59 t/ha) and biological yield (4.11 t/ha) of coriander. However, maximum essential oil content, oil out turn and B : C ratio (2.13) were obtained by pendimethalin 1.0 kg/ha+one hand weeding at 45 DAS. Both the treatments remained at par in reduction of weed dry matter and nutrient uptake by weeds and resulted in maximum weed control efficiency (88.50%) as compared to rest of the practices. Balanced fertilization with 60 kg N+30 kg P+30 kg K+30 kg S/ha also significantly improved weed dry weight and nutrient uptake by weeds, but simultaneously enhanced crop nutrient uptake, plant height, umbels/plant, 1000 seed weight, seed and biological yield, essential oil content, oil out turn and B : C ratio over N+P and N+P+K application. Treatment of pendimethalin 1.0 kg/ha+one hand weeding at 45 DAS resulted in the highest seed yield, maximum weed control efficiency (88.50%) and B : C ratio (2.13). However, minimum nutrient uptake by crop and maximum nutrient removal by weeds were noted under weedy check.