Non-chemical weed management to improve fruit yield and net income in ladies-finger

A field experiment was conducted at Coconut Research Station, Balaramapuram, Thiruvananthapuram, India during winter (Rabi) season of 2020-21 to study the effect of stale seedbed and different non-chemical weed management practices on weed control in ladies-finger. The experiment was conducted in randomized block design with treatment combination of two methods of seedbed preparation and six methods of weed management. . Stale and non-stale seedbed were two seedbed preparation methods. Six non-chemical weed management treatments were tested. The uncontrolled weed growth caused 59.20% reduction in fruit yield in ladies-finger, locally called okra. Compared to non-stale seedbed, stale seedbed registered significantly lower weed density (35.67 no./m²) and biomass (7.81 g/m²) and significantly higher weed control efficiency (WCE) (81.13%), fruits per plant (36.5) and fruit yield (3.29 t/ha), higher net return (₹ 54520/ha) and B:C ratio (1.69). Among different non-chemical weed management practices, the mechanical weeding with wheel hoe weeder (MWHW) at 15, 30 and 45 DAS recorded the lowest total weed density (26.67 no./m²) and biomass (2.54 g/m²); and the highest WCE (93.86%), number of fruits/plant (38.8), fruit weight (6.98/g), fruit yield (4.41 t/ ha), higher net return (₹ 97804/ha) and B:C ratio (2.25). Interaction between seedbed preparation and weed management practice was found to be significant only for absolute density of broad-leaved weeds (BLW), weed biomass and WCE. Among seedbed preparation, stale seedbed can be recommended for reducing the weed density and biomass in ladies-finger. The mechanical weeding with wheel hoe thrice at 15, 30 and 45 DAS can be recommended as a cost-effective weed management to attain higher weed control efficiency, ladies-finger yield and net returns in ladies-finger.