1Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
2Department of Agronomy, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
3Punjab Agricultural University Regional Research Station, Faridkot
4Punjab Agricultural University Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ferozepur
The field experiments were conducted at the experimental area of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana during 2005 to 2008 and at PAU Regional Station, Bathinda, and Faridkot and KVK, Ferozepur to find out an effective chemical weed control in pigeonpea. Pre-emergence (PE) application of pendimethalin 30 EC @ 0.75 kg ha−1 alone and pendimethalin @ 0.45 kg ha−1 (PE) followed by hand weeding at 50 days after sowing (DAS) provided excellent control of weeds at par with 2 hand weedings (25 and 50 DAS) and significantly better than unweeded control treatment. Better control of weeds resulted in higher number of pods/plant, seeds/pod and ultimately higher grain yield in these treatments. Pre-emergence application of pendimethalin @ 0.75 kg ha−1 resulted in highest net returns of Rs 13425 ha−1 followed by Rs 12905 ha−1 in case of pendimethalin @ 0.45 kg ha−1.
Economics, Nodulation, Pendimethalin, Pigeonpea, Weed control
