Indian Journal of Weed Science

Field experiments on chemical control of weeds in potato var. Kufri Chandramukhi were conducted at the National Research Centre for Weed Science, Jabalpur during winter seasons of 1996–97 and 1997–98. Pre-emergence application of oxyfluorfen (0.15, 0.20 and 0.25 kg/hal, metribuzin (0.30, 0.50 and 0.75 kg/hal, oxadiazon (0.50, 0.75 and 1.0 kg/ha), metolachlor (0.50, 1.0 and 1.5 kg/ha) and isoproturon (0.50, 1.0 and 1.5 kg/ha) was done just after planting. The major weeds of the experimental field were: Medicago hispida, Chenopodium album, Chenopodium fisifolium, Commelina communis, Vicia sativa and Melilotusspp. Pre-emergence application of metribuzin and oxyfluorfen was most effective for the control of M. hispida, Chenopodium spp. and other non-grassy weeds. Presence of weeds throughout the growing season caused 62% reduction in tuber yield. All the herbicides reduced the population and dry matter production of weeds and produced significantly higher tuber yield as compared to weedy check. Maximum tuber yield was recorded under hand weeding at 20 and 40 days after planting (DAP). Among different herbicides, metribuzin (0.75 kg/hal was most effective and yielded at par with hand weeding twice, while metolachlor was the least effective.