Effect of weed-management practices on performance of prominent wet-season crops

A field experiment was conducted during the wet season of 1995–96 to study weed dynamics and evolve a suitable weed-management practice on performance of some prominent wet-season crops of Chotanagpur Plateau region. Of all the crops, groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) registered maximum rice (Oryza sativa L.) equivalent (54.9 q/ha), net returns (Rs 8,504/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (1.34). Among the other crops, only finger millet [Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn] and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], being statistically at par, gave ratios more than 1. Similarly, among weed-control measures, recommended seed rate + hand-weeding caused the maximum equivalent (42.86 q/ha) and net returns (Rs 6,391/ha) but when the ratio was calculated the treatment (1.14) was found at par with 25% higher seed rate (1.08). Among the other measures, only recommended seed rate + herbicide (1.06) gave ratio 1 and was found comparable with 25% higher seed rate.