Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute, Dehra Dun, Uttar Pradesh
*Authorized for publication by Director as Contribution No. 31-2/78—S & A from the Central Soil & Water Conservation Research & Training Institute, Dehradun-248195.
An experiment was carried out for three years (1975–77), on silty loam soil to investigate the efficiency of deep tillage, application of 2-chloro-4, 6-bis(ethylamino)-s-triazine (simazine) and hand weeding to control weed growth, to reduce loss of plant nutrients through weeds ami to boost yield of rainfed maize (Zea mays L.). Under shallow tillage, weed growth was as high as 7.2 t/ha which could be brought down to 3.5 t/ha by combined effect of deep tillage and simazine application. Simultaneously the same treatment brought down loss of nutrients from 53,18, 24 kg/ha to 25, 8,11 kg/ha of N, P and K, respectively and resulted in increased yield of maize which was 2.8 times that under shallow tillage. The experiment, therefore, indicated that about 28 kg N, 11 kg P and 13 kg K could be saved and 2.9 t/ha yield of maize obtained if efficient weed control measure was adopted in the cultivation of maize.
Weeds, NPK losses, herbicide, rainfed maize
