Effect of integrated weed management and intercropping systems on growth and yield of pearlmillet (Pennisetum glaucum)

An experiment was conducted during the rainy season of 1999 and 2000 at S.K.N. College of Agriculture, Jobner (Jaipur), on loamy sand soil, to evaluate the effect of integrated weed management and intercropping systems on growth and yield of pearlmillet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) Br. emend. Stuntz]. Intercropping systems significantly reduced weed population and dry-matter production compared to sole pearlmillet. Lowest weed population (117/m²) and dry weight (975 kg/ha) were recorded under pearlmillet + cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp.] followed by pearlmillet + greengram (Phaseolus radiatus L), while maximum under sole pearlmillet at harvest. The sole pearlmillet recorded significantly higher tillers/plant and crop dry matter at harvest than all the 3 intercropping systems, whereas plant height under sole pearlmillet being at par with pearlmillet + clusterbean [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taubert]. Sole pearlmillet gave significantly more ear length, grains/ear, grain (20.8 q/ha), stover (54.9 q/ha) and biological (75.6 q/ha) yields compared to rest of the intercropping systems, while highest pearlmillet-grain-equivalent yield was recorded under pearlmillet + clusterbean (39.1 q/ha), followed by pearlmillet + greengram over pearlmillet + cowpea and sole pearlmillet. Hand-weeding twice at 30 and 45 days after sowing remained at par with pendimethalin and oxadiazon each at 1.0 kg/ha supplemented with hand-weeding once at 45 days after sowing recorded the lowest weed population (77/m²) and dry-matter production (625 kg/ha) compared to rest of the weed-management practices. The crop dry matter, plant height, tillers/plant, ears/plant, ear length and grains/ear increased significantly under all the weed-control measures compared to unweeded control with maximum values under hand-weeding twice. Similarly, all weed-control measures gave significantly higher grain, stover, biological and grain-equivalent yields of pearlmillet compared to weedy check but maximum values were obtained under hand-weeding twice (22.9 q/ha grain, 61.5 q/ha stover, 84.4 q/ha biological and 41.4 q/ha grain-equivalent yields), followed by pendimethalin and oxadiazon each at 1.0 kg/ha + hand-weeding once at 45 days after sowing.