Weed flora dynamics and yield of mustard as influenced by tillage and weed management in pearlmillet-mustard-cowpea cropping system

The effects of tillage and weed management practices were evaluated for four years (2014–15 to 2017–18) in pearlmillet-mustard-cowpea cropping system. The results revealed that conventional tillage during Kharif (rainy) and Rabi (winter) seasons and zero tillage with previous crop residue application significantly increased the grain yield by 36 and 15% and reduced the total weed biomass by 57 and 26%, respectively compared to zero tillage without residue application. Among different weed flora, conventional tillage during Kharif and Rabi season fb the zero tillage with previous crop residue reduced the population of P minor by 24.6 and 16%, C. arvensis and M. hispida by 50 and 29% and C. rotundus by 42 and 10% with weed control efficiency of 79 and 65%, respectively at 60 DAS over zero tillage without residue application. However, among different weed management practices, the pre-emergence application of oxyfluorfen 0.23 kg/ha with one hand weeding at 30–35 DAS resulted in significant reduction of total weed biomass, highest grain yield, weed control efficiency and net returns. The integrated weed management approach reduced the narrow-leaved weeds by 75%, broad-leaved weeds by 86% and sedges by 90% as compared to the weedy check.