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

An experiment was conducted during the rainy season (kharif) of 1999 and 2000 at College of Agriculture, Jobner (Jaipur), on a loamy sand soil, to evaluate the effect of integrated weed management and intercropping systems on growth and yield of pearlmillet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br, emend. Stuntz]. 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 than all the 3 intercropping systems. Maximum plant height was recorded under sole pearlmillet, being at par with pearlmillet + clusterbean [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L) Taubert]. Sole pearlmillet gave significantly more ear length, grain (20.8 q/ha) and stover (54.9 q/ha) than rest of the intercropping systems whereas highest pearlmillet-grain-equivalent yield was recorded under pearlmillet + clusterbean (39.2 q/ha) closely followed by pearlmillet + greengram. Hand-weeding twice at 30 and 45 DAS remained at par with pendimethalin and oxadiazon each at 1.0 kg/ha supplemented with hand-weeding once at 45 DAS significantly reduced the weed population (77/m²) and dry-matter production (625 kg/ha) compared to rest of the weed-management practices. The plant height, tillers/plant, ears/plant and ear length increased significantly under all the weed-control measures compared to unweeded control with maximum values under hand-weeding twice. Similarly, maximum values were obtained under hand-weeding twice (22.9 q/ha grain, 61.5 q/ha stover and 41.4 q/ha pearlmillet grain-equivalent yields) followed by pendimethalin and oxadiazon each at 1.0 kg/ha + hand-weeding once at 45 days after sowing over weedy check.