Efficacy of Herbicides Against Field Dodder (Cuscuta campestris) in Lentil, Chickpea and Linseed

Pre-emergence application of pendimethalin at 1000 g ha⁻¹ and squadron (ready mixture of pendimethalin (240 g a.i. l⁻¹) + imazaquin (40 g a. e. l⁻¹) 3000 g ha⁻¹) significantly reduced the emergence of C. campestris as compared to Cuscuta infested plot in both lentil and chickpea. Pre-plant incorporation of fluchloralin at 1000 g ha⁻¹ was not effective on Cuscuta. Post-emergence application of imazethapyr (50 and 100 g ha⁻¹) and glyphosate (50 g ha⁻¹) killed the extended vines of Cuscuta and checked its growth upto 25–30 days only. Maximum seed yield of lentil (4175 and 3407 kg ha⁻¹), chickpea (3615 and 2949 kg ha⁻¹) and linseed (1994 kg ha⁻¹) was recorded in Cuscuta free plots. Pendimethalin at 1000 g ha⁻¹ in all three crops, squadron at 3000 g ha⁻¹ in chickpea and glyphosate at 50 g ha⁻¹ in linseed significantly increased the seed yield. Squadron was phyto-toxic to lentil and linseed. Imazethapyr and glyphosate (except at 50 g ha⁻¹ in rinseed) were phyto-toxic to the crops.