Nakul Kumar, Aman Parashar, Priyanka Chand and Hiral Gundaniya
Abstract
A field experiment was carried out during the Rabi season of 2022 at the Crop Research Centre, School of Agriculture, ITM University, Gwalior (M.P.) to evaluate the effect of various weed management practices on weed control, yield, and economics in potato. The study was conducted in a Randomized Block Design with ten treatments, replicated thrice. The results showed that the application of metribuzin 70% EC + clodinafop 15% EC as post-emergence at the 3-4 leaf stage was most effective in controlling a wide spectrum of weeds, including grassy, broad-leaved, and sedge species, leading to a marked reduction in weed density and dry matter accumulation. This treatment significantly enhanced growth attributes, which translated into the highest total tuber yield and improved quality parameters over other herbicidal treatments and the weedy check. Economic evaluation revealed that metribuzin 70% EC + clodinafop 15% EC produced the maximum net returns and the highest benefit-cost (B/C) ratio, establishing it as the most cost-effective and profitable weed management strategy for potato under the given agro-climatic conditions. The findings suggest that integrated use of metribuzin and clodinafop at the appropriate crop stage can effectively suppress weed competition, enhance productivity, and maximize economic returns for potato growers.