Non-chemical integrated weed management in organic wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in North-West India

Weed management is a major constraint in low input organic production systems and necessitates integration of different non-chemical practices for satisfactory weed management. Present field study investigated combinations of cultural and mechanical practices for effective weed management in organic wheat in winter season of 2018–19 and 2019–20 at Ludhiana in north-west India. The integrated interventions viz; mechanical weeding, straw mulch and soil mulch enhanced wheat grain yield by 3448% than unweeded check. Manual weedings recorded the significantly highest wheat grain yield than all other treatments Among other weed management practices, sowing wheat on raised beds (broad bed; 4 rows/bed) integrated with two mechanical weedings (both on beds and in furrow) at 30 and 45 days after sowing, had the lowest weed density and dry biomass and it provided the highest wheat grain yield (3.54–3.73 t/ha) and highest economic returns. It was at statistically at par with wheat sown on beds (2 rows/bed) and mechanical weeding done on bed and in furrows at 30 and 45 days.