Agri-horti system compatibility and weed management for enhancing sesame (Sesamum indicum) production under Vindhyan region of eastern Uttar Pradesh

An experiment was conducted during the rainy season of 2015 at South Campus, Banaras Hindu University, Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, to study the effect of 3 agri-horticultural systems, viz. guava (Psidium guajava L.), custard apple (Annona squamosa L.) and open field, and 4 weed-management practices (pendimethalin 750g a.i/ha + hand-weeding (30 DAS); imazethapyr 75g a.i/ha (PoE) + intercultivation (IC) (45 DAS); quizalafop ethyl 40 g a.i/ha (PoE) + IC (45 DAS); and weedy check) on sesame (Sesamum indicum L.). Guava agri-horti system recorded higher plant height, biomass, capsule count and seed yield and also recorded less infestation of total weeds; whereas open field recorded the highest weed infestation. Pendimethalin recorded the highest weed-control efficiency (94.9% on density basis and 92.6% on biomass basis) at 40 DAS but reverse results observed after intercultivation as quizalofop-ethyl recorded significantly the lowest infestation of weed and recorded the highest plant biomass, capsule content, test weight and seed yield of sesame. In our study, guava proved a compatible agri-horti system for introduction of sesame and quizalofop ethyl 40 g a.i/ha (PoE) + IC (45 DAS) treatment as best for management of weeds and enhancing productivity.