The efficacy of promising herbicides in controlling weed flora in potato under North-western plains*

A field experiment was conducted during 1988–89 and 1989–90 at Central Potato Research Station, Jalandhar, to study the efficacy of promising herbicides in potato (cv. JH 222). On an average 35.8% reduction in the tuber yield was caused by uncontrolled weeds. Among the herbicides and cultural treatments, metribuzin at 0.75 kg/ha as pre-emergence was found most effective closely followed by oxyfluorfen (0.3 kg/ha) against both broad leaved and grassy weeds. The highest weed control efficiency (88%) was recorded in metribuzin treated plot with highest benefit cost ratio. One weeding + earthing up at 30 DAP could not provide desired degree of weed control. Early post-emergence (15–20 DAP) application of paraquat did not prove effective.