Clodinafop, Combinations, Metribuzin, Pinoxaden, Sulfosulfuron, Weeds, Wheat
Ten treatments, viz. clodinafop 60 g/ha, sulfosulfuron 25 g/ha, metribuzin 175 g/ha, pinoxaden 50 g/ha, clodinafop 60 + metribuzin 105 and 122.5 g/ha, sulfosulfuron 25 + metribuzin 105 g/ha, sulfosulfuron 25 + pinoxaden + 40 g/ha, weed free and unweeded check were tested during the Rabi season of 2010-11 and 2011-12 at Palampur. Grassy weeds (Phalaris minor, Avena ludoviciana, Poa annua and Lolium temulentum) constituted 90% of the total weed flora. All the weed control treatments were significantly superior to weedy check in curtailing dry weight of Phalaris, Avena and Vicia sativa. Metribuzin remaining at par with sulfosulfuron effectively reduced the dry weight of Poa annua. Clodinafop alone was least effective against Poa annua. Weed free, clodinafop, pinoxaden, clodinafop + metribuzin resulted in significant reduction in the dry weight of L. temulentum. Clodinafop 60 g/ha + metribuzin 122.5 g/ha, clodinafop 60 g/ha + metribuzin 105 g/ha, pinoxaden 50 g/ha and weed free resulted in significantly higher grain yield of wheat. Weeds reduced grain yield of wheat by 59.3%. Grain yield was negatively associated with weed count and weed biomass and positively associated with plant height, spike length, spikelets/spike and effective tillers. With every 1 g/m2 increase in weed dry weight, the grain yield of wheat was expected to fall by 41.55 kg/ha. The economic threshold levels (number of weeds/unit area) with weed management practices varied between 2.6-45.4/m2. Clodinafop 60 g/ha + metribuzin 122.5 g/ha resulted in highest weed control efficiency, crop resistance index and efficiency index. It gave lowest weed persistence index and weed index. Clodinafop 60 g/ha + metribuzin 122.5 g/ha resulted in highest net return due to weed control. Metribuzin 175 g/ha resulted in the highest marginal benefit: cost ratio.