A field experiment was conducted from 2005 to 2009 at Agricultural Research Station, Kota to assess the effect of cultural, mechanical and chemical weed control measures on weeds, sugarcane ratoon yield and weed population dynamics under three cycles of sugarcane-ratoon system. Treatments applied in the ratoon significantly increased yield and highest ratoon yield (77.15 t/ha) was recorded with three hoeings (1, 4 and 7th week after ratoon initiation) followed by application of T6 (T6-Metribuzin @ 1 kg a. i./ha (PE)+1 hoeing at 45 DARI) 73.45 t/ha and T9 (Trash mulching in alternate rows+hoeing at 1 and 6 weeks after ratoon initiation) 73.88 t/ha. Effect of treatment on weed population dynamics was evident from reduced abundance of grass (less then 5) in ratoon, under all treatments compared to weedy check. Adoption of weed control measures caused occupation of field by grasses, broad leaf weeds and sedges, whereas in weedy-check grasses were most abundant in ratoon. Significantly lower weed density (10.00 No./m2 and weed dry weight (44 g/m2) were recorded under three hoeings (1,4 and 7th week after ratoon initiation and highest weed control efficiency (74.9%) was also recorded in same treatment (1,4 and 7th week after ratoon initiation). The highest net returns of Rs. 49935/ha were recorded with the application of T6 (Metribuzin @ 1 kg a. i./ha (PE)+ 1 hoeing at 45 DARI) followed by three hoeings (1,4 and 7th week after ratoon initiation) and T9 (Trash mulching in alternate rows+hoeing at 1 and 6 weeks) after ratoon initiation).
Abundance index, Days after ratoon initiation, Mulching, Ratooning, Sugarcane, Weed dynamics
