Integrated Weed Management in Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) under Mid-hill Conditions of N-W Himalayas

The effects of fluchloralin at 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 kg ha⁻¹, metolachlor at 0.75 and 1.0 kg ha⁻¹ alone and in combination with hand weeding 45 days after sowing (DAS) and repeated weeding on okra and associated weeds were compared against weedy check in 1996 and 1998 at Experimental Farm, Hawalbagh of Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan, Almora. All the weed control treatments except fluchloralin at 0.5 kg ha⁻¹ caused significant reduction in weed density and weed biomass, in turn brought significant improvement in yield attributes and fruit yield as compared to weedy check. Metolachlor at both the doses and fluchloralin at 1.0 or 1.5 kg ha⁻¹ each followed by HW 45 DAS proved distinctly superior to respective herbicides applied alone and were comparable with repeated weeding. Repeated weeding recorded highest plant height, fruits/plant, fruit weight/plant and green pod yield followed by metolachlor at 1.0 kg ha⁻¹ fb HW 45 DAS. However, highest net return was obtained with metolachlor at 1.0 kg ha⁻¹ fb HW 45 DAS.