Indian Journal of Agronomy

A field experiment was conducted at Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, during the winter seasons (August to January) of 1998–1999 and 1999–2000, to develop efficient chemical and non-chemical weed-management practices for ‘MCU 5’ irrigated cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L). Pre-emergence application of Cinmethylin at 0.6 kg/ha followed by hand-weeding 40 days after sowing gave excellent control of grasses, sedges and broad-leaved weeds, whereas the yield of seed cotton was reduced by initial phytotoxicity to cotton crop. However, Cinmethylin at 0.5 kg/ha + hand-weeding at 40 days after sowing increased the growth, yield parameters and seed-cotton yield of 1,878 and 1,781 kg/ha. Among the non-chemical weed-management practices, growing of greengram (Phaseolus radiatus L.) and cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] as smother crop effectively suppressed total weed population and enhanced growth, yield parameters and seed-cotton yield.