Weed management with pre- and post-emergence herbicides in direct-seeded finger millet

Field experiment was conducted at Agricultural Research Station, Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh, India during two consecutive Kharif seasons of 2024 and 2025 to evaluate the efficacy of different pre- and post-emergence herbicides for weed management in direct-seeded finger millet. A randomized block design with ten treatments was used. The pre-emergence application (PE) of pendimethalin 38.4% + pyrazosulfuron-ethyl 0.85% ZC (pendimethalin + pyrazosulfuron-ethyl) 686.9 g/ha and bensulfuron-methyl 0.6% + pretilachlor 6% GR (bensulfuron-methyl + pretilachlor) 198 g/ha recorded lower total weed density, weed biomass, higher weed control efficiency, grain yield, net returns and benefit cost ratio as compared to other herbicidal treatments. The lowest sedges and broad-leaved weeds density was recorded with the post-emergence application (PoE) of metsulfuron-methyl + chlorimuron-ethyl 20 WP (metsulfuron-methyl + chlorimuron-ethyl) 4.0 g/ha and 2,4-D sodium salt 80 WP (2,4-D sodium salt) 800 g/ha PoE at 15–20 days after sowing (DAS), but the grain yield was lower under these treatments because of the predominance of grass weeds. Hence, pendimethalin + pyrazosulfuron-ethyl 686.9 g/ha PE or bensulfuron-methyl + pretilachlor 198 g/ha PE can be recommended for effective and economical weed management and higher productivity in direct-seeded finger millet.