Studies on Critical Period of Crop-Weed Competition in Green Gram in Kandi Region of Punjab

A field experiment was conducted for two consecutive rainy seasons of 2003 and 2004 at ZRS for Kandi Area, Ballowal Saunkhri. A total of ten treatments comprising of unchecked weed infestation and weed free conditions for the initial 20, 30, 40 and 50 DAS along with season long weed free and weed competition were tested to identify the most critical period of crop-weed competition in green gram. Unchecked weed competition caused 53.7% green gram seed yield reduction compared to weed free check. Most significant reduction in seed yield occurred when weed free conditions were maintained for the initial 20 days of sowing and unchecked weed infestation upto 40 DAS and thereafter. Thus, the critical period of crop weed competition lies between 20–40 days after sowing in rainy season seeded green gram under rainfed conditions.