IMPACT OF WEED MANAGEMENT METHODS ON GROWTH, PRODUCTIVITY AND ECONOMICS OF SPRING MAIZE UNDER NORTH-WESTERN INDO-GANGETIC PLAINS OF INDIAVishvajeet D. Jadhav, Santosh Korav, Sujatha H.T. and Rajanna G.A.Abstract This study focuses on different weed management methods and their impact on the growth, productivity, and economics of spring maize. The experiment was conducted in RBD with twelve weed management methods replicated thrice. Treatments consisted of T1: Weedy check, T2: Weed-free check, T3: Weed-free (2 hoeing at 15 and 30 DAS), T4: Lay by application of Atrazine (0.75 kg a.i ha-1) after one hoeing at 15 to 20 DAS, T5: Lay by application of Pendimethalin (0.75 kg a.i ha-1) after one hoeing at 15 to 20 DAS, T6:Halosulfuron @ 67.5 g ha-1 at 2-3 leaf stage, T7: Tembotrione @ 120 g ha-1 at 2-3 leaf stage, T8: Atrazine (0.75 kg a.i ha-1) as pre-emergence + Halosulfuron @ 67.5 g ha-1 at 25 DAS, T9: Atrazine (0.75 kg a.i ha-1) as pre-emergence + Tembotrione @ 120 g ha-1 at 25 DAS, T10: Maize + rice crop residue as mulch and hand pulling of weeds at 25 DAS, T11:Topramezone (25.2 g ha-1) as post-emergence and T12: CRIJAF nail weeder at 6 days after emergence and 20 days after emergence. Experimental results indicated that crop growth and development, and productivity were maximum in weed free up to maturity followed by weed free by two hoeing at 15 and 30 DAS. Lay by application of Atrazine (0.75 kg a.i ha-1) after one hoeing at 15 to 20 DAS enhanced plant height by 6.2 - 7.9 percent, plant dry matter by 5.8 - 7.9 percent, Chlorophyll index by 15.6 - 22.4 percent, grain yield by 10.9-14.2 percent and biological yield by 5.5-7.0 percent. The highest Net return and B-C ratio were found in weed-free check followed by two hoeings, lay by application of Atrazine and pendimethalin |