Journal of Krishi Vigyan

The present study was carried out at the KrishiVigyan Kendra, Dewas during kharif2015–16, 2016–17 and 2017-18with the objectives to find out practically convenient and economically viable weed management practices on growth, yield and yield attributing characters of kharif onion. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with 9 treatmentsviz., T₁=control (without hand weeding and chemical herbicides), T₂=three hand weeding at 20, 40 and 60 DAT, T₃=one hand weeding at 20 DAT, T₄=pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg/ha (pre-plant incorporation-PPI), T₅=oxyfluorfen @ 0.250 kg/ha (post emergence-PoE), T₆=pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg/ha (PPI) + one Hand weeding (HW) at 40 DAT, T₇=oxyfluorfen @ 0.250 kg/ha (PoE) + one HW at 40 DAT, T₈=pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg/ha (PPI) + oxyfluorfen @ 0.250 kg/ha (PoE), T₉=pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg/ha (PPI) + oxyfluorfen @ 0.250 Kg/ha (PoE) + one HW at 40 DATwith three replications. All the weed management practices resulted in significantly lower weed density relative to contrast. Highest plant height (59.69 cm), neck thickness (1.11 cm), leaves/plant (8.28) were recorded in hand weeding at 20, 40 and 60 DAT which was statistically at par with pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg/ha (PPI) + oxyfluorfen @ 0.250 Kg/ha (PoE) + one HW at 40 DATbut significantly higher than control. Hand weeding at 20, 40 and 60 DATresulted in significantly higher bulb weight (92.12 g), bulb diameter (6.37 cm) and bulb yield (272.14 q/ha) as compared to rest of the treatments. Among chemical treatments, pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg/ha (PPI) + oxyfluorfen @ 0.250 Kg/ha (PoE) + one HW at 40 DAT resulted in significantly higher bulb weight (88.67 g), bulb diameter (6.14 cm) and bulb yield (267.84 q/ha).Highest net returns (Rs1, 77, 697/ha) and B: C(4.39) were obtained with the application ofpendimethalin @ 1.0 Kg/ha (PPI) + oxyfluorfen @ 0.250 Kg/ha (PoE) + one hand weeding at 40 DAT making it practically more convenient and economically viable weed management practice.