Effect of management practices on weed dynamics, leaf nutrient status and flower yield in rose

An experiment comprising different weed control treatments was conducted on rose. Rice straw mulch was found more beneficial in reducing of all kinds of weeds. Maximum uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus was recorded with weed free and monthly hand weeding (conventional), respectively and on par with rice straw mulch. Weed free and monthly hand weeding strikingly increased the number of secondary shoots/plant and plant height respectively, which were at par with rice straw mulch. Yield of flowers was enhanced due to weed-free treatment followed by monthly hand weeding and rice straw mulch, however it was at par with rice straw mulch, which is eco-friendly and non-hazardous in nature. It was also interesting to note that all the concentrations of various herbicides namely, atrazine, pendimethalin and metribuzin exhibited lower flower yield than rice straw mulch.