Integration of chemical and cultural methods for weed management in kharif groundnut

A field experiment was conducted to study the integrated weed management in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) for consecutive three kharif seasons in 2010, 2011 and 2012 at Breeder Seed Production Farm of Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar with 7 weed management treatments in four replications. Weed free check (two hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS and manually uprooting of weeds at 60 DAS) was found more effective to control weeds in groundnut and recorded lowest weed density, weed dry matter , weed index and highest weed control efficiency. It was also recorded significantly highest growth -1 and yield attributes in groundnut over all the other treatments viz. number of pods plant , shelling per cent and pod yield. Pre-1 emergence application of pendimethalin 30 EC @ 1 kg. a.i. ha + one HW at 45 DAS alone or in combination with post emergence -1 application of quizalofopethyl 5 EC @ 50 g. a.i ha at 20 DAS was found next superior treatment after weed free check in respect of all weed and crop parameters. Though weed-free check recorded significantly highest gross returns and net returns, which was 39,535/ha and 16,962/ha, respectively.Highest B:C ratio (1.84) was recorded in treatment having pre-emergence application of -1 pendimethalin 30 EC @ 1 kg. a.i ha + one HW at 45 DAS in combination with post emergence application of quizalofopethyl 5 -1 EC @ 50 g. a.i ha at 20 DAS which was found most economically feasible weed management practice for groundnut.