Comparative Yield Loss Assessment and Crop-Weed Association in Major Winter Crops of Mid Hills of N-W Himalayas

Field experiments were conducted to study the comparative yield losses due to weeds in wheat, barley, lentil, toria and field pea for winter seasons of 1989–90 to 1992–93 at Experimental Farm. Hawalbagh (1250 m amsl) of VPKAS (ICAR), Almora. Polygonum, plebijum, Phalaris minor, Stellaria media, Anagalis arvellsis and Avella ludoviciana were dominant weed species and contributed about 95 and 81% of total population and weed dry weight, respectively. Of them, P. plebejum alone contributed 84.1 and 66.5% of total weed population and weed dry weight, respectively. Total dry weight of weeds (g/m²) was highest in lentil (155.9) followed by wheat (128.2), toria (115.6), field pea (109.2) and barley (83.5). Season long weed competition in various crops caused highest yield reduction in lentil (46.6%) followed by wheat (40.6%), toria (40.1%), barley (28.1%) and field pea (24.7%).