Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

AN EXTENSION RESEARCH FOR SELECTION OF BEST ADOPTIVE WEED CONTROL METHODS TO PROMOTE WHEAT CULTIVATION IN CHATRA DISTRICT OF JHARKHAND, INDIA

V.K. Pandey*, #A.C. Pandey*, R.K. Singh*, A.C. Mishra*, S.K, Dubey**, D. Oraon*, V.P. Rai*, U.K. Singh*** and S.S. Kumar****

Abstract

The present on Farm Trial is conducted in randomized block design with ten replications and three treatments to compare the performance of different weeding methods in wheat cultivation. The three treatment designed to be compared are, hand weeding by local Khurpi at 35 days after sowing (DAS), one weeding with Kriset hoe at 35 DAS and application of herbicide Isoprotiron 75 % dust @ 2.0 Kg/ha at 35 DAS in wheat var. H.U.W.9107 during Rabi 2007-08 and 2008-09. The results indicated that weeding with Kriset hoe recorded maximum grain yield (33.6q/ha), straw yield (44.7 q/ha), number of tillers per hill (6.25), weeding efficiency (77.4 %), gross income per hectare (Rs. 49260/-), net income per hectare (Rs. 27920/-) and benefit cost ratio (2.30) and has been found as the best treatment among the three. In spite of low cost of cultivation in treatment included chemical/weedicides i.e. Isoproturon, farmers reaction was negative due to unavailability of specified herbicides in local markets. Residual effect in soil and low weed control efficiency of chemical resulting in comparatively lower yield of wheat also discouraged the farmers interest in this treatment. Therefore, Kriset hoe was found to be suitable for weed management in wheat under the prevailing bio-physical and socio economic condition of Chatra district in Jharkhand.