Influence of Tillage and Weed Management Strategies on Weed Dynamics, Growth and Yield of Maize (Zea mays L.)

This study evaluates the impact of various tillage systems and weed management practices on maize (Zea mays L.) growth and yield under Punjab agro-ecological conditions. During the time of study three tillage methods, conventional, minimum and zero tillage were combined with chemical weed control treatments focusing on post-emergence herbicides.

Design of experiment used was split plot design and total number of treatments were 21.

The results show that, the combined mix application of mesotrione (70 g/ha) and atrazine (0.5 kg/ha) post-emergence under conventional tillage proved most effective in suppressing dominant weeds including Parthenium hysterophorus and Amaranthus viridis, resulting in the lowest total weed counts (8.26 no/m²) and total weed dry weight (9.18 g/m²). This treatment also produced superior crop growth parameters: highest plant height (217.09 cm), plant dry weight (153.81 g), cob length (15.20 cm), cob girth (13.31 cm), number of grai rows per cob (13.41), grain yield (4.39 t/ha) and stover yield (7.23 t/ha). While conventional tillage preserved soil health, conventional tillage combined with integrated chemical weed control maximized maize productivity by effectively reducing weed competition. The findings highlight that a balanced approach integrating optimal tillage and targeted herbicide application is vital for enhancing maize yield and sustainability in Punjab’s maize cropping system.