Effect of weed control and sulphur on productivity of quality protein maize (Zea mays), dynamics of associated weeds and relative nutrient uptake

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy (kharif) seasons of 2009 and 2010 at Udaipur, to study the effects of weed control and sulphur application on quality protein maize (Zea mays L.) productivity and associated weeds. Maximum reduction of weed density, dry matter and nutrient uptake by weeds were recorded in crop handweeded twice at 15 and 30 days after sowing (DAS) followed by application of tank-mix atrazine + ethoxysulfuron and atrazine + alachlor. Herbicide mixture involving ethoxysulfuron significantly damaged the crop. The highest values of grains/row, grain weight/cob, 1,000-grain weight, grain (4.55 t/ha) and stover (7.72 t/ha) yields and N,P,K and S uptake by crop were observed with 2 hand-weedings, which were at par with that of atrazine + alachlor. The highest net returns of 40,917/ha was obtained through tank mix atrazine + alachlor (500 + 1500 g/ha). Application of 40 kg S/ha resulted in significantly higher 1,000-grain weight, seed (4.09 t/ha) and stover (6.58 t/ha) yields and N, P, K and S uptake by crop. It also registered a benefit: cost ratio of 1.72, which was significantly more than 20 kg S/ha.