Efficiency of different weed control methods on yield and economics of rainfed lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus)

A field study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different weed control methods and its economic implications in rainfed lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus) at the Agricultural Research Farm, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, BHU, Varanasi (U.P.), India during Rabi 2010–12. Hand weeding at 30 and 45 days after sowing (DAS) was found to be the best treatment with regard to weed control, yield attributes and seed yield except the economic aspect. Application of pendimethalin @ 1 kg a.i./ha followed by mechanical weeding (hoeing) at 45 DAS was the next best treatment with the least weed dry matter (34.9 g/m²) and highest WCE (78.0%), plant height (37.2 cm), branches/plant (7.63), pods/plant (62.3), seeds/pod(1.94), test weight (21.1 g), nodule number (8.2/plant), nodule weight (4.97 mg/plant) and yield (1365 Kg/ha). The treatment was statistically at par with pendimethalin fb Imazathapyr @ 37.5 g a.i./ha. Although weed free and hand weeding (HW) twice exhibited maximum productivity (1430 and 1366 Kg/ha) yet, the highest net return ( 55592) and the benefit cost ratio (2.80) were associated with pendimethalin fb mechanical hoeing.