Effect of integrated use of competitive cultivars, herbicide and mulch on weed dynamics, weed-control efficiency, weed index and yield of summer sesame (Sesamum indicum)

A field experiment was conducted during the summer (pre-kharif) season of 2016 at Sriniketan, Birbhum, West Bengal, to study the effect of sesame cultivar (Sesamum indicum L.) on weed management by straw mulching along with or without pre-emergence herbicide. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with factorial concept, replicated thrice. The integrated use of cultivar Rama with pendimethalin at 1.0 litre/ha + straw mulching @ 3.5 t/ha resulted in significantly lower weed density and weed dry weight 45 days after sowing (DAS). The same combination recorded higher seed yield (1,496 kg/ha) and stick yield (3,404 kg/ha) which was signifi- cantly at par with the combination of cultivar Rama with weed-free check. The application of pendimethalin at 1.0 litre/ha + straw mulching @ 3.5 t/ha resulted in higher weed-control efficiency (98.36%) and lower weed index (7.89%). The loss of seed yield of sesame due to weed infestation was to the tune of 70% and it was compara- tively less in ‘Rama’ cultivar (66.7%) than ‘Tilottoma’ (74.6%) and ‘Savitri’ cultivar (67.8%). The cultivar Rama with pendimethalin at 1.0 litre/ha + straw mulching @ 3.5 t/ha was found to be effective in controlling composite weed flora. Thus, this treatment can be the best weed control option for obtaining higher productivity of summer sesame in lateritic belt of West Bengal.