Effect of integrated weed management practices on weed dynamics and weed control efficiency in lucerne

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of integrated weed management practices on forage quality in lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) during 2008–09. The treatments consisted of salt (10%) treatment to seeds of lucerne + hand weeding at 30 DAS and after each cut, salt (10%) treatment to seeds + imazethapyr 75 g/ha at 12 DAS, salt (10%) treatment to seeds + pendimethalin 0.5 kg/ha at 12 DAS, stale seed bed + hand weeding at 30 DAS, pendimethalin 0.5 kg and 0.75 kg/ha as PE, imazethapyr 75 g and 100 g/ha at 12 DAS, pure seed of lucerne + hand weeding at 30 DAS and after each cut, hand weeding at 30 DAS and after each cut (farmers practice), weedy check and weed free check. experiment was laid in RBD with three replications. The results indicated that the density and dry weight of weeds (excluding cuscuta) were significantly lower with weed free check. Higher weed control efficiency and green fodder yield of lucerne at each cut and total was significantly higher with application of imazethapyr 75 g/ha at 12 DAS and was at par with selection of pure seed + hand weeding at 30 DAS and after each cut. Cuscuta control efficiency was maximum with application of pendimethalin and imazethapyr and their combination with salt treatment (10%) to seed and selection of pure seed of lucerne + hand weeding at 30 DAS and after each cut.