Efficiency of herbicides in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) under hot arid conditions of Rajasthan

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy seasons of 2014 and 2015 at A.R.S. Bikaner, Rajasthan to test the efficiency of different weed-control measures in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L). The experiment comprising 14 weed-control treatments of 1.0 kg pendimethalin (PPI), 1.0 kg pendimethalin (PE), 800 g imazethapyr + pendimethalin (PE) (2 + 30% Ready mix), 900 g imazethapyr + pendamethalin (PE) (2 + 30% Ready mix), 1, 000 g imazethapyr + pendamethalin (PE) (2 + 30% Ready mix), 50 g imazethapyr (3–4 leaf stage), 70 g imazethapyr (3–4 leaf stage), 60 g imazethapyr + imazemox (Ready mix at 3–4 leaf stage), 70 g imazethapyr + imazemox (Ready mix at 3–4 leaf stage), 40 g oxyfluorfen (3–4 leaf stage), 50 g fenoxaprop p-ethyl (3–4 leaf stage), 62 g propaquizafop (3–4 leaf stage), 2 hand-weedings and weedy check in randomized block design (RBD) with 3 replications. 2 hand-weedings were found most effective in the controlling weeds in groundnut and recorded the lowest weed count and weed dry matter of both broad-leaf and grassy weeds. Among the different herbicides, application of imazethapyr + pendamethalin 1, 000 g resulted in the lowest weed count and weed dry matter of both broad-leaf and grassy weeds as well as significantly highest yield attributes and yield, viz. dry-matter accumulation, pods/plant, pod, haulm and biological yield/ha in groundnut over all the other herbicidal treatments. The maximum net returns of 97.2 × 10³/ha and benefit: cost ratio (2.41) were recorded under 2 hand-weeding treatment. Among the different herbicides, application of imazethapyr + pendamethalin 1, 000 g resulted in higher net returns of 88.1 × 10³/ha and benefit: cost ratio (2.29).