Influence of tillage and weed management on weeds and maize productivity in Bundelkhand region

Abstract

An experiment was conducted during Kharif2022, at the Research Farm, Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, to evaluate the effect of tillage and weed management treatments on weeds, and productivity and profitability of maize (Zea mays L.) in the Bundelkhand region. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design (RBD) with eleven treatment combinations, replicated thrice. Among the treatments tested, the combination of zero tillage with greengram residue 3 t/ha along with pre-emergence application (PE) of atrazine 1.25 kg/ha followed by (fb) post-emergence application (PoE) of tembotrione 150 g/ha was most effective in controlling weeds, recording the lowest total weed density and biomass at 30 and 60 days after sowing (DAS), along with higher maize plant height and dry matter accumulation. This treatment also recorded superior maize yield attributes, including cobs/plant, grains/cob, grain weight/cob, shelling percentage, test weight and the highest maize yield (39.30% increase over control).