1Assistant Agronomist, Department of Forestry and NR, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, 141 004
2Senior Scientist, (Agroforestry), Department of Forestry and NR, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, 141 004
3Senior Agronomist, Department of Agronomy, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, 141 004
Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, 141 004
*Corresponding author Email: navik20@pau.edu
Online published on 8 September, 2016.
A field study was conducted during 2013–14 and 2014–15 to find out the effective and economical approach for weed control in turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) grown under poplar (Populus deltoides Bartr.) block plantation which was established at 4 m × 3 m spacing in January 2012. Three pre-emergence herbicides (pendimethalin 0.75 and 1.0 kg/ha, oxyfluorfen 0.176 and 0.235 kg/ha, atrazine 0.563 and 0.75 kg/ha) were integrated with 9 t/ha paddy straw mulching during both the years except with atrazine during 2014–15. Integrated use of oxyfluorfen 0.235 kg/ha or pendimethalin 1.0 kg/ha with straw mulch provided similar level of weed control to that of 3 handweedings and increased rhizome yield of turmeric by 36–42% over weedy check. Pendimethalin 1.0 kg/ha + straw mulch recorded higher benefit: cost ratio than hand-weedings. Atrazine + straw mulch recorded effective control of weeds, however it killed the poplar trees at both the levels; hence not safe for use in turmeric grown in poplar plantations. Treatment combinations of pendimethalin and oxyfluorfen with straw mulch were found to be safe for weed management in poplar-turmeric based agroforestry system.
Agroforestry, Herbicides, Poplar, Straw mulch, Turmeric, Weeds
