RAU Agricultural Research Station, Keshwana, Jalore-343 001 (Rajasthan), India.
1Present Address: Bioassay Division, Central Insecticides Laboratory, Directorate of PPQ & S, Ministry of Agriculture, NH-IV, Faridabad-121 001 (Haryana), India.
Crop-weed competition was studied to determine the critical period in cumin during winter seasons of 1996–97 and 1997–98 at the Research Farm of Agricultural Research Station, Jalore, Rajasthan. Chenopodium album L., C. murale L., Melilotus indica (L.) All. and Asphodelus tenuifolius Cav. were the dominant weed species associated with the crop. Cumin seed yield loss increased with increase in the duration of crop-weed competition. Cumin seed yield increased significantly with the increase in initial duration of weed-free condition. Critical period of weed-free competition was found to be 22–39 days after sowing.
