Division of Agronomy, Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow-226002 (D. P.), India.
Field experiments carried out for two years revealed that unchecked growth of weeds caused 35.4% loss in cane yield. Predominant weed flora infesting weedy plots were: Cyperus rotundus, Trianthema portulacastrum, Sorghum halepense and Echinochloa spp. Among weed control treatments, manual hoeing performed at 30, 60 and 90 days after planting (DAP) suppressed the weed population and dry matter accumulation most effectively and resulted in significantly highest number of millable canes and cane yield. Pre-plant incorporation or pre-emergence spray of pendimethalin 2 kg ha−1 as well as sequential spray of atrazine 2 kg ha−1 and 2, 4-D 1 kg ha−1 (60 DAP) also produced the similar effects on the weeds and the crop. New herbicides ethoxysulfuron and clomazone could contain the weeds only upto 60 DAP and hence could not prove effective for weed control in sugarcane. Effect of various treatments on juice quality was not conspicuous.
