Influence of weed-control method on productivity of rainfed soybean (Glycine max) in Vertisol of central India

A field experiment was carried out during the rainy season of 1998 and 1999 to study the effect of different herbicides on growth and yield of ‘JS 335’ soybean (Glycine max (L) Merr.] grown on clay-loam soil of Indore, Madhya Pradesh. The conventional practice of weed control involving dora (a small bakhar shape implement, drawn by a pair of bullocks between the rows of the crop) and 1 hand-weeding 30 days after sowing the crop, was effective in controlling the weeds and giving higher grain yield. The pre-emergence application of herbicides—metolachlor @ 1.0 kg/ha, chlorimuron ethyl @ 0.009 kg/ha and combined use of chlorimuron ethyl and metolachlor @ 0.009 kg and 1.0 kg/ha, respectively, were equally effective in controlling the weeds and influencing soybean yield favourably.