Weed flora
The experimental field was absolutely invaded with mixed population of weed flora consisting of both dicots and monocots. Among the total weeds, dicots (76%) were more prominent than the monocot weeds(24%). The major dicot weed flora during
Kharif season in groundnut crop was dominated by
Digera arvensis, Lagasca mollis, Euphorbia geniculata, Tridexprocumbense, Parthenium hysterophorus, Celosia argentea, Alysicarpus monolifer, Alternanathera triandra, Portulaca oleracae, Amaranthis viridis, Acalyphaindica,
Cardiospermum helicarpium,
Ipomoea reniformis,
Corchorus acutangulus, Phyllanthus niruri,
Abutilon indicum,
Abelmoschus moschatus, Boerhavia diffusa,
Calotropis gigantea,
Ageratum conyzoides,
Bidens pilosa,
Mimosa pudica,
Xanthium strumarium, Datura stramonium and among the monocots weeds
Cynodon dactylon, Cyperus rotundus, Commelina benghalensis, Ischaemum pilosum,
Digitaria sanguinalis, Dinebra retroflexa, Poa annua, Cyanotis axillaris Roem were the weeds observed in the experimental field
. Similar observations on weed flora in
kharif groundnut was also reported by
Pawar et al., (2018).
Crop phytotoxicity
The herbicide toxicity on crop stand and growth was recorded at 10 days after application of herbicide in respective treatment by using visual score scale of 0-10. Phytotoxicity rating revealed that, only post emergence application of Oxyflurofen 0.20 kg/ha at 20 DAS showed phytotoxicity symptoms (Score-4) on the leaves of groundnut due to higher dose of Oxyflurofen where severe scorching was observed and it affects the final plant stand of groundnut crop. Similar phytotoxicity was also reported earlier by
Kalaichelvi et al. (2015). Other post emergence herbicides does not shown any adverse effect on groundnut crop.
Effect on weed density and dry weight of weeds
The pooled analysis of data (Table 1) revealed significant reduction in all the weed control treatments with respect to weed density and dry weed biomass over the unweeded control. The highest reduction in weed density and dry matter of weeds were recorded under weed free treatment (6.15 No./m
2 and 5.19 g/m
2) due to complete and effective removal of the weeds during the experimentation. Similar results were also reported by
Singh et al. (2019) who reported that weed free was found most effective to control weeds in groundnut and recorded lowest weed count and weed dry matter of both broad leaved and grassy weeds. Among the herbicides, of Imazethapyr + Imazomo × 0.10 kg a.i./ha POE found more superior treatment in curtailing the weed population and dry weight of weeds (32.02 no./m
2, 36.54 g/m
2) followed by Propaquizofop 0.10 kg a.i /ha POE (35.42 no./m
2, 42.81 g/m
2) as compared to unweeded control and both remain at par with each other. Pre-mix combination of Imazethapyr + Imazomox 0.10 kg a.i./ha provided excellent control of weeds. This post emergence herbicide combination applied at 20 DAS was able to control the further infestation of weed in groundnut crop. Further the crop covers the soil surface and smothers and suppress the growth of weeds result into least number of weed at harvest.
(Malunjkar et al., 2012). The significant reduction in weed density and weed dry matter as compared to weedy check might be due to combination of both herbicides that have longer effect on controlling weed population. These results are in agreement with the results reported by
Dixit (2012) and
Kar et al., (2015).
Effect on weed control efficiency and weed index
Weed control efficiency (WCE) in groundnut was significantly influenced by weed management treatments, where all the treatments resulted in increased percent of weed control efficiency over the weedy check. The highest value of WCE (97.26%) was obtained from weed free check treatment.
Adhikary et al., (2016) earlier also reported treatment receiving hand weeding twice recorded lowest weed biomass and highest WCE (85.09%) which was significantly higher over other treatments. Amongst herbicides, the maximum value of WCE was achieved by of Imazethapyr + Imazomox 0.10 kg/ha (80.68%) followed by Propaquizofop 0.10 kg (77.39%). The application of pre-emergence herbicide pendimethalin @1.0 kg/ha and other post emergence herbicides registered less WI. Similarly data on weed index as indicated in Table 1 showed the least yield reduction (6.71%) inImazethapyr + Imazomox followed by Propaquizofop 0.10 kg (9.34%). Where as yield reduction varied from 6.71 per cent to 38.94 per cent in the herbicide applied plots as compared to weed free treatment. The WI was lower in all the treatments as compared to weedy check. Lower is the weed index in chemical treatments, better the efficiency of that herbicide in controlling weeds, which provided favourable conditions for crop growth which ultimately increased the grain yield of groundnut crop as compared to weedy check treatment. Similar trend of weed control efficiency and weed index were recorded during study from 2015-16 to 2017-18. Similar results were also reported by
Kushwah and Vyas (2005);
Malunjkar et al. (2012) and
Datta et al. (2001).
Effect on growth and yield
Pooled data of growth and yield attributing parameters showed that, maximum plant height (33.35 cm) at harvest was recorded in weed free method which was at par with pre-mix post emergence herbicide Imazethapyr + Imazomox @ 0.10 kg/ha. This might due to the least weed population observed in the treatments, which reduced the crop weed competition. Significant reduction in plant height was noticed in unweeded control treatment which might be due to the competition between crop and weeds for soil moisture, plant nutrients, solar radiation and space during active growth period. These results are in accordance with the results reported by
Mishra et al. (2013). Different weed management practices had significant positive impacts on yield attribute and yield of groundnut crop. Significant lowest values ofdry matter, pods/plant, 100 kernel weight were recorded under weedy check and the highest values for these parameters were recorded under weed free treatment. Higher level of these parameters could be attributed due to low crop-weed competition under this treatment. Among herbicidal treatment, Imazethapyr + Imazomox @ 0.10 kg/ha efficiently increased dry matter per plant (18.11 g) over weedy check (8.86 g). The increase in the dry matter of groundnut was attributed to the decreased weed population and lesser dry weight of weeds thus resulted in decreased competition by weeds to moisture, light and nutrients. The effect of which can be traced back to increased dry matter accumulation in stem, leaves and pods.
Murthy et al. (1992) and
Kumar and Sharma (1996) have reported significant reduction in the dry matter accumulation and lower pod yield in groundnut under weedy check. The dry matter production and its accumulation in reproductive parts depends upon the photosynthetic ability of the plant and can be analysed through leaf area and dry matter accumulation in leaves, which in turn influence the photosynthetic ability, performance and yield of the crop. The results corroborate with the findings of
Kumar and Sharma (1997) and
Yadav et al., (2014). Propaquizofop 0.10 kg /ha POE 20 DAS as post emergence was next best molecule for increasing dry matter, pods/plant kernel weight. This might be due to minimizing the competition of weeds with main crop for resources
viz. space, light, nutrients and moisture with adaption of effective weed control methods.
Singh and Giri (2001) also concluded that proper weed control was responsible for increase in plant height and dry matter production in groundnut. However, incase of other herbicidal treatments, Quizolofop ethyl 0.10 kg/ha, Imazethapyr 0.10 kg/ha, Imazethapyr 0.10 kg/ha
fb Quizolofop ethyl 0.10 kg, Imazethapyr 0.10 kg/ha + Quizolofop ethyl 0.10 kg/ha (Tank mix) and Oxyflurofen 0.20 kg/ha recorded higher yield and yield attributes of groundnut compared to weedy check but remained at par with each other.
Pooled analysis exhibited that different weed control treatments registered significant increase in dry pod yield of groundnut compared to weedy check during all the three years of study. Weed free treatment recorded highest pod yield of 2614 kg/ha which might be due to the fact that weed free environment in crop facilitated better peg initiation and development at the critical growth stages of groundnut which tends to increase in number of pods/plant and pod yield/hectare. Higher profitable pod yield of summer groundnut was also reported by
Raj et al., (2008) and
Singh et al., (2018) with keeping the crop in weed free condition. Among the herbicides, the higher value of dry pod yield in the individual years and over the pooled was obtained with application ofImazethapyr + Imazomox @ 0.10 kg/ha (2448 kg/ha.) closely followed by Propaquizofop 0.10 kg (2370 kg/ha). Pooled data showed that both these treatments recorded 54.94% and 53.45% increase in dry pod yield over weedy check. Better expression of yield attributes due to reduced weed infestation through these treatments might have helped the crop plants to accumulate more dry matter through greater nutrient uptake that might have provided more quantity of photosynthates to developing sink in crop plants produced more yield. The grain yield improvement and weed control has already been reported by
Malligawad et al., (2000) and
Kalhapure et al., (2013).
Economics of weed control
As indicated in Table 2, all the weed control treatments tended to significantly surpass weedy check in terms of gross returns,net returns and B:C ratio. Although, weed free recorded the maximum pod yield, maximum gross monetary returns and net monetary returns was registered in weed free treatment (Rs. 117641/ha and Rs. 80894/ha) followed by pre-mix herbicide combination of Imazethapyr+ Imazomox 0.10 kg /ha (Rs.109873/ha and Rs. 80530/ha), however highest pooled B:C ratio (3.74) was registered in application of Imazethapyr + Imazomox followed by Propaquizofop 0.10 kg/ha (3.58). The differences in B:C ratio is due to the cost of herbicides, labours required and productivity of the crop. Though the weed free treatment resulted in highest seed yield (2616 kg/ha) owing to 97.26% weed control efficiency but could not found as profitable as herbicidal treatment due to higher expenditure incurred on engaging labours.
Annadurai et al., (2010) also reported that weed management is the need of the day through the introduction of herbicides to meet labor shortage to effect early weed control and reduce the cost of weeding. Similar results were also obtained by
Mishra et al., (2013), Vaghasia and Nadiyadhara (2013) and
Dixit et al., (2016).