MPACT OF WEED CONTROL TREATMENTS ON WEED FLORA, NUTRIENT UPTAKE BY WEEDS AND WHEAT CROP

In agriculture weed causes more damage compared as to insects, pests and diseases but due to hidden loss by weed in crop production, it has not drawn much attention of agriculturists. With an increase in labour corts and its unavailability is in peak period and crops susceptibility to weed competition the need of hour is to go for chemical weed control with their proper recommendation. Experimental site constituted by monocot weeds viz., Brachiaria serrata Echinochloa colonam L. Cav. dicot weeds viz., Amaranthus viridis, Digeria arvensis Chenopodium album and Euphorbia hirta L. and sedges viz., Cyperus rotundus L.. Weed free condition and integration of pendimethalin pre emergence, metsulfuron-methyl, 2,4-D amine salt and clodinafop post em. with one or two hand weedings at 25-30 or 35-40 DAS proved effective in reducing total weed density and dry weight of weeds and recorded significantly highest uptake of N, P and K by crop and lowest uptake by weeds. After treatment weed free the next following treatment was pendimethalin pre emergence + one hand weeding @ 40 DAS produces highest yields and nutrient uptake by crop and lowest nutrient uptake by weeds.