Background: Groundnut or peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is known as the &ldquo;King of Oilseeds&rdquo; which belongs to family Fabaceae (Leguminosae). It is highly susceptible to weed infestation because of its slow initial growth up to 40 DAS and small foliage cover. However, study on use of mechanical weed control methods with different fertility regimes for improving the productivity of groundnut was limited. Therefore, the objective of this study was to find a suitable method for optimising the productivity of groundnut. 
 
Methods: A field experiment was conducted at Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar for two consecutive years of 2020 and 2021. The field experiment comprised 16 treatment combinations of four weed management practices and four fertility levels. The weed management practice included W1-Pre-emergence (PE) application of pendimethalin @ 0.75 kg ha-1, W2-Pre-emergence (PE) application of pretilachlor @ 0.5 kg ha-1, W3-Manual weeding (20 and 40 DAS), W4-Twin wheel hoe at 20 DAS followed by (fb) hand weeding at 40 DAS and four fertility levels includes T1-100% RDF (20:40:40) (N: P205: K2O kg ha-1), T2- 75% RDF + 5 tonnes FYM ha-1, T3- 50% RDF + 10 tonnes FYM ha-1, T4- without fertilizer + without FYM.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Amongst the weed management practices, use of twin wheel hoe at 20 DAS followed by hand weeding at 40 DAS significantly reduced the weed density, weed dry weight, weed index and recorded the highest weed control efficiency (69.8%). Highest weed index (32.9) was recorded with the application of pretilachlor @ 0.5 kg ha-1 (PE), which was followed by weed index of (28.5) with application of pendimethalin @ 0.75 kg ha-1 (PE). The fertilizer management practice with application of 50% RDF + 10 tonnes FYM ha-1 gave the highest yield and considerably reduced the total weed density, weed dry weight&nbsp; and recorded the maximum weed control efficiency (71.8 % at harvest). We suggest that weed management with twin wheel hoe at 20 DAS followed by hand weeding at 40 DAS along with application of 50% RDF + 10 tonnes FYM ha-1 as the most effective strategy for controlling the weed menace in groundnut with the highest weed control efficiency.

Weed Dynamics and Crop Productivity as Influenced by Weed Management Practices and Fertility Levels in Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

<div style="text-align:justify">Different crops were raised and harvested at physiological maturity and weeds were collected at flowering stages during Kharif 2017 for preparing plant aqueous extracts at wet land farm of Sri Venkateswara Agricultural College, Tirupati. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance of different plant aqueous extracts and paddy straw mulch for organic weed management in a randomized block design and replicated thrice during Rabi, 2017-18 and The predominant weed species observed were Cyperus rotundus L. (45%), Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop. (15%), Borreria hispida (L.) K. Schum. (7%). All chemical weed management practices recorded significantly lesser weed density and dry weight than organic weed management practices. Among the organic weed management practice, application of paddy straw mulch at 5 t ha-1 recorded significantly lesser density and dry weight of weeds with higher weed control efficiency, apart from enhancing the yield components and pod yield of groundnut. Among the plant aqueous extracts, sorghum plant aqueous extract spray 15 L ha-1 at 15 and 30 DAS proved to be the best in controlling weeds and increasing pod yield. The performance of parthenium and purple nutsedge aqueous extracts each applied at 15 L ha-1 at 15 and 30 DAS were very poor in controlling weeds and promoting pod yield of groundnut. The reduction in pod yield of groundnut due to unchecked weed growth was 52.53 and 37.18% compared to pendimethalin 1kg ha-1 + HW at 30 DAS and paddy straw mulch at 5 t ha-1, respectively. Paddy straw mulch at 5 t ha-1 recorded significantly higher count of effective rhizobium nodules plant-1 and soil microorganisms viz., bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes.</div>

<div style="text-align:justify">Performance of Plant Aqueous Extracts for Organic Weed Management in Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea)&nbsp;</div>

<div>Background: Herbicides are used in agriculture to reduce the density of weeds and improve the crop yield. Pendimethalin 30% EC is widely used pre-emergent herbicide to control annual grasses and certain broad leaf weeds; is no longer effective against established weeds like Cyperus and Commelina benghalensis, Acalypha indica and Phyllanthus spp. that are dominant in groundnut crop. Combination of Pendimethalin 30% and Imazethapyr 2% EC is a broad-spectrum herbicide that controls most broadleaf weeds and some annual grasses. The current study aimed to improve the profitability of farmers by effectively and economically by controlling the targeted weeds. 
 
Methods: A field experiment was conducted at Zonal Agricultural and Horticultural Research Station (ZAHRS), Babbur Farm, Hiriyur, Karnataka during Kharif 2018, 2019 and 2020, to study the efficacy of pre and post-emergence herbicides for weed management in groundnut. The trial comprised of nine treatments involving two pre-emergence herbicides (Pendimethalin 38.7 CS 1.0 kg/ha PE and Pendimethalin 30 EC+Imazethapyr 2 EC 1.0 kg/ha PE (ready mix)) alone and in combinations with post-emergence herbicides (quizalofop-p-ethyl 50 g/ha at 15-20 DAS (PoE)), along with pre-emergence herbicides super imposed with hand weeding at 30 DAS and compared with two inter cultural operation at 15 and 30 DAS followed by manual weeding for intra rows and weedy check. 
 
Result: The experimental results revealed that, among the different herbicides treatments, the higher net return (Rs. 92,835/ha) and B:C ratio (2.70) were noticed in Pendimethalin 30 EC+Imazethapyr 2 EC 1.0 kg/ha PE (ready mix)+manual weeding at 30 DAS as compared to control plot (Rs. 2620/ha and 0.96, respectively) this has effectively controlled most of the weed flora present in the experimental field.</div>

​Efficacy of Pre and Post-emergence Herbicides for Weed Management in Groundnut

<div>Background: Weeds infestation is one of the major threats to crop production and leads to severe crop-weed competition which finally reduce the crop productivity in term of quality and quantity. To enhance crop productivity therefore efficacy of various pre and post-emergence herbicides were evaluated on the basis of Amaranthus viridis, Commelina benghalensis and Cynodon dactylon population reduction, nutrient concentration and their uptake by groundnut. 
 
Methods: The present investigation was conducted consecutively for two kharif seasons of 2016 and 2017, at Instructional Farm, CTAE, MPUAT, Udaipur with six weed management practices and four phosphorus levels thus, 30 treatment combinations; all were evaluated in split-plot design with three replications.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The experimental results revealed that all herbicidal treatments as well as weed free recorded significantly lowest weed density as well as highest weed control efficiency, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium concentration and also their uptake by groundnut as compared to weedy check except quizalofop-ethyl at 30 DAS in respect to control&nbsp;Cynodon dactylon. Further, pod yield response to phosphorus was found quadratic. The results also showed that phosphorus exhibit significantly increase nutrients concentration and their uptake by groundnut over control during the experimentation.</div>

Weed Management under Phosphorus Enrichment in Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Background: Cereal-legume cropping system is considered to be one of the better alternatives for sustaining soil fertility and increasing the yield. At present maize-groundnut cropping system is gaining importance under both rainfed and irrigated situations. Maize, being an exhaustive and weed-sensitive crop, is supplied with large doses of fertilizers and new herbicide molecules.Since maize is exhaustive and weed sensitive crop, there was a usage of excessive fertilizers and new herbicides. There is a need to assess the carry over effect of fertilizers and new generation herbicides in leguminous crops like groundnut. 
 
Methods: The experiment was conducted during two consecutive rabi seasons of 2019-20 and 2020-21 on sandy loam soils of S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. Maize hybrid DHM -117 was sown and maintained with general cultivation practices except for nitrogen and weed management methods was raised after harvest of maize in undisturbed layout to study the residual effect of different nitrogen and weed management practices imposed in maize. 
 
Result: Residual effect of nitrogen and weed management practices imposed in preceding maize did not exert any significant influence on germination percentage, phytotoxicity and SPAD chlorophyll meter reading (SCMR) values but efficacy of herbicide residue found to be significant with weed management practices. Growth parameters, yield attributes pod yield, haulm yield and economics were higher in groundnut with brown manuring, which was however, in parity with hand weeding twice at 15 and 30 DAS, pre emergence application of atrazine 1.0 kg ha-1 fb post emergence application of topramezone 30 g ha-1 and pre emergence application of atrazine 1.0 kg ha-1 fb post emergence application of tembotrione 120 g ha-1 and lower with unweeded check and it was remained in parity with application of parthenium water extract15 lha-1 twice at 15 and 30 DAS, application of sunflower water extract 15 lha-1 twice at 15 and 30 DAS, pre emergence application of atrazine 1.0 kg ha-1 fb post emergence application of parthenium water extract 15 lha-1 and pre emergence application of atrazine 1.0 kg ha-1 fb post emergence application of sunflower water extract 15 lha-1 in the order of ascent.&nbsp; None of their interaction effects were found to be significant during both the years of study and in pooled mean.

Residual Effect of Nitrogen and Weed Management Practices in Maize on Succeeding Groundnut

<div>Background: Weed management is one of the most important agronomic constraints leading to severe losses in the cropping system. Intercropping has several advantages to mitigate the losses faced by monocropping in addition to which if there is a proper control of weeds then the advantages of the intercropping system can be multiplied. 
 
Methods: An investigation was conducted on medium black clayey soils at Junagadh during kharif 2019-20 and 2020-21 in randomized block design with 10 treatments replicated thrice, to evaluate the effect of different weed management options on the growth and yield of groundnut + pigeonpea relay intercropping. The treatments were: pendimethalin 0.9 kg ha-1 as PE fb interculture and hand weeding at 45 DAS (T1), pendimethalin 0.45 kg ha-1 + oxyfluorfen 0.09 kg ha-1 as PE fb interculture and hand weeding at 45 DAS (T2), interculture and hand weeding at 15 DAS fb sodium acifluorfen 16.5% + clodinafop propargyl 8% (ready mix) 1 kg ha-1 at 45 DAS as POE (T3), interculture and hand weeding at 15 DAS fb quizalofop p ethyl 40 g ha-1 at 45 DAS as POE (T4),&nbsp; interculture and hand weeding at 15 DAS fb propaquizafop 70 g ha-1 at 45 DAS as POE (T5), pendimethalin 0.9 kg ha-1 as PE fb sodium acifluorfen 16.5% + clodinafop propargyl 8% (ready mix) 1 kg ha-1 at 45 DAS as POE (T6), pendimethalin 0.9 kg ha-1 as a PE fb quizalofop p ethyl 40 g ha-1 at 45 DAS as POE (T7), pendimethalin 0.9 kg as ha-1 PE fb propaquizafop 70 g ha-1 at 45 DAS as POE (T8), weed free (T9) and unweeded control (T10). 
 
Result: The results of the experiment revealed that weed free registered significantly higher plant height, number of branches, dry matter per plant and&nbsp; number of root nodules per plant in groundnut and pigeonpea and was statistically on par with to intercultureand hand weeding at 15 DAS fb sodium acifluorfen 16.5% + clodinafop propargyl 8% (ready&nbsp; mix) 1 kg ha-1 at 45 DAS as PoE, pendimethalin 0.9 kg ha-1 as PE fb sodium acifluorfen 16.5% + clodinafop propargyl 8% (ready mix) 1 kg ha-1 at 45 DAS as PoE. The data on yield attributes and yield of both the crops depicted that significantly superior results were obtained with weed free treatment, which was statistically at par with intercultureand hand weeding at 15 DAS fb sodium acifluorfen 16.5% + clodinafop propargyl 8% (Ready mix) 1 kg ha-1 at 45 DAS as PoE and pendimethalin 0.9 kg ha-1 as PE fb sodium acifluorfen 16.5% + clodinafop propargyl 8% (Ready mix) 1 kg ha-1 at 45 DAS as PoE. While in case of groundnut equivalent pod and haulm yields, statistically superior yields were registered with weed free treatment, which was statistically at par with intercultureand hand weeding at 15 DAS fb sodium acifluorfen 16.5% + clodinafop propargyl 8% (Ready mix) 1 kg ha-1 at 45 DAS as PoE.</div>

Productivity of Groundnut + Pigeonpea Relay Intercropping System as Influenced by Weed Management Options

<div style="text-align: justify;">A field experiment was conducted at Research Farm of Agriculture Research Station, S K Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner during 3 consecutive kharif season of 2014, 2015 and 2016with fourteen weeds control treatments of pendimethalin 1.0 kg/ha (PPI), pendimethalin 1.0 kg/ha (PE), imazethapyr + pendimethalin 800g/ha, imazethapyr + pendamethalin 900g, imazethapyr + pendamethalin 1000g, &nbsp;imazethapyr 50g, imazethapyr 70g/ha,imazethapyr + imazemox 60g/ha, imazethapyr + imazemox 70g/ha, oxyfluorfen 40g/ha, fenoxaprop p-ethyl 50g/ha, propaquizafop 62g/ha, weed free and weedy check in randomized block design with three replications. 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 different herbicides, application of imazethapyr + pendamethalin 800g recorded efficiently controlled weed count and weed dry matter of both broad leaved and grassy weeds as well as significantly highest yield attribute and yield in groundnut over all the other herbicidal treatments viz. dry matter accumulation (75.2g), number of pods/plant (31.2), pod (2979 kg/ha), haulm (7711 kg/ha) and biological yield (10690 kg/ha). Among the different herbicides, application of imazethapyr + pendamethalin 800g recorded higher net returns of84132/haand B:C ratio of 2.22.</div>

Herbicidal weed management in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea)&nbsp;

<div>Background: Agriculture sector is vital for food and nutritional security of the nation. Contrary to great stride in cereals and millets production during last few decades, desired rise in production of oilseeds has yet to be achieved though India has 14 and 9 per cent of global acreage and production. 
 
Methods: The present investigation was conducted during kharif seasons of 2016 and 2017, at Instructional farm, MPUAT, Udaipur to access the effect of different pre - post herbicides for weed control in groundnut under phosphorus application. This experiment was operated with six weed management practices and four phosphorus levels thus, 30 treatment combinations; all were evaluated in split-plot design with three replications. 
 
Result: Our investigations results revealed that herbicidal treatments as well as weed free check significantly control weed population and recorded the highest values of N, P, K concentration in weeds, kernel, biological yields and total chlorophyll content over weedy check while, significantly maximum N, P, K uptake and soil available phosphorus were noted under weedy check over rest of the treatments. Further, the results also showed that application of phosphorus exhibit significant increase in nutrient concentration and their uptake by weeds, kernel, biological yields, total chlorophyll content and soil available phosphorus over control during the course of investigation.</div>

<div>Weed Management in Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) with Phosphorus in Southern Rajasthan</div>

Background: The Groundnut or Goober peas (Arachis hypogaea L.) hold a prominent position as one of India&rsquo;s most crucial food and cash crops. One of the serious bottlenecks that limit the productivity of groundnut is the weed menace.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: A field experiment was conducted at Perunthalaivar Kamaraj Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Puducherry during 2021 to 2023 to investigate the effects of integrated weed management practices on groundnut cultivation. The experimental setup followed a randomized block design with nine treatments, each replicated three times. The treatments comprised a range of weed management practices, including the pre-emergence herbicide pendimethalin and post-emergence herbicides like imazethapyr and quizalofop-ethyl. These herbicides were administered either individually or in conjunction with hand weeding once. In addition, hand weedings twice at 20 and 40 DAS were tested with unweeded check. 
 
Result: The experiment results of the two years study revealed that the application of Pendimethalin 30% EC + Imazethapyr 2% EC with quizalofop - p- ethyl at 15-20 DAS has gave the maximum plant height (74.7 cm), dry matter production (57.9 g /plant), higher pod yield (3922 kg/ha), haulm yield (5919 kg/ha), highest net return (Rs. 91763 ha-1) and B: C ratio (2.75). The strong positive correlations are plant height (0.96 and 0.97), shelling % (0.98 and 0.99), no. of pods plant-1 (0.98 and 0.99), dry matter production (0.98 and 0.99) and weed control efficiency (0.85 and 0.88). These variables had a positive impact on groundnut yield.

Quantitative Variables Analysis, Growth and Yield of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) under Different Weed Management Practices

<div>Background: Weeds are the major biotic constraint to reduce the rice productivity in direct wet seeded rice. Weed infestation and competition are severe in direct wet seeded rice as compared to transplanted rice, because of the simultaneous growth of both crops and weeds. The yield loss due to weeds varies from 40 to 100 per cent in direct seeded rice. Use of herbicides either singly or in combination with manual or mechanical weeding in puddled direct seeded rice has been highlighted by several workers. Use of alternative herbicides with wide spectrum control of the weeds in direct seeded puddled rice is the need of the present time. The present study aimed to evaluate different weed management practices in direct wet seeded rice under sodic soil. 
 
Methods: A field experiment was conducted during Samba season (Rabi) 2016-17. to evaluate the weed management practices in direct wet seeded rice under sodic soil. The treatments comprised of different combination of weed management practices viz., pre emergence, early post emergence herbicides, mechanical weeding and hand weeding twice were tested. Total weed density and weed dry weight, weed control efficiency, yield parameters and yield of rice were recorded.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Among the different weed management practices, the lowest total weed density, total weed dry weight and higher WCE, yield attributes, grain and straw yields were registered under application of PE pyrazosulfuron ethyl 25 g/ha fb EPOE bispyribac sodium 25 g/ha. This was followed by application of PE pretilachlor 0.75 kg/ha fb EPOE bispyribac sodium 25 g/ha.&nbsp;</div>