Influence of integrated weed management practices on weeds, physiology, quality and yield of direct sown ragi (Eleusine coracana L. Gaertn)

Field experiment was conducted at Coconut Research Station, Balaramapuram during January 2022 to April 2022 to assess the effect of weed management on weeds, physiology, quality and yield of direct sown ragi. The experiment was conducted in randomized block design with twelve treatments. The percentage reduction in weed density at 60 DAS due to weed management ranged from 45.4% to 81.8%. The lowest weed dry weight at 60 DAS was observed in PE pyrazosulfuron-ethyl 20 g/ha on the day sowing fb WHW at 25 DAS. The treatments, wheel hoe weeding (WHW) at 15 and 30 DAS, pre-emergence (PE) pyrazosulfuron-ethyl 20 g/ha on the day of sowing fb WHW or post directed application of penoxsulam + cyhalofop-butyl 135g/ha at 25 DAS recorded higher values for crop growth rate, relative growth rate, leaf area index and chlorophyll content. The treatment, PE pyrazosulfuron-ethyl 20g/ha on the day of sowing fb WHW at 25 DAS recorded higher protein content while PE pyrazosulfuron-ethyl 20 g/ha on the day of sowing fb post directed application of penoxsulam + cyhalofop-butyl 135 g/ha at 25 DAS recorded the highest starch content and these two treatments also recorded higher grain yield compared to other treatments.