Influence of weed management on growth and yield of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) in gangetic plains of West Bengal, India

Abstract

The field experiments were carried out at Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Nadia, West Bengal, India during summer seasons of 2012 and 2013, to study the effect of weed management on growth and yield of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in gangetic plains of West Bengal. Weed biomass, weed control efficiency as well as the pods plant-1, 100-seed weight, seed yield were significantly affected due to weed control treatments. Treatment receiving hand weeding twice recorded lowest weed biomass (3.44 g m-2) and highest WCE (85.09 %). Highest seed yield (1025 kg ha-1) was also recorded with hand weeding, which was significantly higher over other treatments. The results also showed that oxyfluorfen and chlorimuron-ethyl treatment applied at recommend rate were also effective in reducing the dry weight of weeds. Further the tested herbicides did not have significant effect on the crude protein and oil content in seeds.