Weed control in greengram (Vigna radiata) and its residual effect on Indian mustard (Brassica juncea)

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy (kharif) season of 2013 and 2014 at Agricultural Research Station, Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner, Rajasthan to study the effect of pre-and post-emergence application of herbicides on greengram [Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek] and their carry over effect on Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. & Coss] during succeeding winter (rabi) seasons of 2013–14 and 2014–15. The experiment comprised 10 weed control treatments, viz. pendimethalin 1, 000 g/ha (pre-em), imazethapyr 50 g and 70 g/ha (early post-em), imazethapyr + pendimethalin (ready mix) 800, 900, and 1, 000 g/ha (pre-em), imazethapyr + imazamox 60 and 70 g/ha (early post-em), 2 hand-weedings at 20 and 40 days after sowing (DAS) and weedy check applied to greengram in randomized block design with 3 replications. Two handweedings at 20 and 40 DAS resulted in the lowest weed count of broad-leaf and grassy weeds and weed dry matter at 60 days after sowing. It also recorded significantly the highest number of branches/plant, pods/plant, seeds/pod and seed and straw yields over the other treatments. Among different herbicidal weed-control treatments, the highest weed-control efficiency was recorded with application of imazethapyr + pendimethalin (ready mix) 900 g/ha, and lowest weed index was recorded in imazethapyr + pendimethalin (ready mix) 800 g/ha. Application of herbicides did not cause any adverse effect on succeeding Indian mustard in both the years.