Influence of crop geometry, cultivar and weed-management practice on crop-weed competition in chickpea (Cicer arietinum)

A field experiment was conducted to study the influence of 2 crop geometries (30 and 45 cm), 3 cultivars (‘Avarodhi’, ‘Radhey’ and ‘Pant G 114’) and 2 weed-management practices (weed-free and weedy) on crop-weed competition in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) during the winter seasons of 1996–97 and 1997–98 at Agricultural Research Farm, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Chickpea cultivar ‘Avarodhi’ proved better competitor for space, soil moisture and nutrient compared to ‘Radhey’ and ‘Pant G 144’. Row spacing of 45 cm accumulated more nutrient and utilized soil moisture efficiently in comparison to 30 cm row spacing Full-season weed competition reduced grain yield, nutrient accumulation and utilization of soil moisture in chickpea cultivars in comparisn to full-season weed free. Variety ‘Avarodhi’ and 45 cm row spacing recorded the highest grain yield, net return and benfit: cost ratio compared to ‘Radhey’ and ‘Pant G 114’ and 30 cm row spacing respectively.