Response of crop establishment and weed management practices on weed dynamics and yields of lentil under indo-gangetic plains of Bihar

A field experiment was conducted during two consecutive winter (Rabi) seasons of 2020 and 2021 at Chutiya village, Banka, Bihar (24⁰30’N latitude and 86⁰30’E latitude), India to evaluate the effect of crop establishment and weed management practices [(pendimethalin 1000 g/ha pre-emergence, pendimethalin 1000 g/ha pre-emergence fb 1 hand weeding at 30 days after sowing (DAS), two hands weeding at 30 and 60 DAS and weedy check)] on weed dynamics and crop productivity of lentil. Our results revealed that altogether 11 dominant weed species, viz. Cynodon dactylon, Digitaria sanguinalis, Panicum repens, Dactyloctenium aegyptium, Cyperus rotundus, Medicago denticulata, Gnaphalium purpureum, Rumex dentatus, Lethyrus aphaca, Solanum nigrum and Xanthium strumarium infested lentil. The minimum weed density and biomass were noted under the treatment of two hands weeding 20 and 40 DAS, which was significantly higher compared to rest of weed management treatments. The crop yield attributes (pods/plant and dry matter/plant) were recorded with crop planted with Happy seeder and significantly superior over ZT production system. Thus, was conclude that application of pendimethalin (1000 g/ha) 2 DAS fb 1 hand weeding at 30 DAS resulted in significantly higher pods/plant, dry matter/plant and seed yield and considered as the best treatment to manage all weeds effectively leading to higher weed control efficiency as well herbicidal efficiency index.