Efficacy of cultural and chemical weed control methods in potato

A field experiment was conducted for two years (1991–92 and 92–93) at Central Potato Research Station, Jalandhar in sandy loam soil. On an average, weeds reduced the tuber yield by 42%. All the weed control treatments significanly reduced the weed infestation and increased the tuber yield by 18–82% compared to unweeded control. The weed control efficiency ranged from −8 to 100%. The treatment mulching + earthing up was found most effective and gave highest tuber yield in tune of 300 q/ha with highest net additional profit over control (Rs. 10,116/ha). The yield differences between the treatment one hand weeding + one earthing up; oxyfluorfen and oxyfluorfen + one hand hoeing were found statistically non-significant. The dry weight of weeds was significantly and negatively correlated with tuber yield at 30 DAP (r = −0.788), 60 DAP (r = −0.765) and at harvest (r = −0.861).