Resource conservation techniques and pendimethalin for control of weeds in durum wheat cultivars

A field experiment was conducted on durum wheat during 2005–06 and 2006–07 to study the effect of resource conservation techniques (RCTs), cultivars and pendimethalin herbicide on weeds and yield of durum wheat. Zero tillage (ZT) significantly reduced the population of Phalaris minor and dry matter of grassy weeds as compared to conventional tillage (CT) and furrow irrigated raised bed system (FIRBS), however, density and dry matter of broad-leaved weeds was higher under ZT that under CT and FIRBS. Grasses were predominant under FIRBS as compared to CT. Cultivar ‘PDW 291’ had less density and dry weight of weeds having superior yield attributes and produced significantly higher grain yield over ‘WH 896’ and ‘WH 912’. Pre-emergence application of pendimethalin (1.5 kg/ha) reduced the density and dry matter accumulation by grassy as well as broad-leaved weeds effectively and increased the wheat grain yield by 25% over weedy check.