Evaluating Herbicide Combinations and Mechanical Methods for Sustainable Weed Management in Irrigated Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Abstract

The present study evaluates herbicide combinations and mechanical methods for sustainable weed management in irrigated groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.). Integrated weed management strategies, combining cultural, mechanical, and chemical methods, are recommended for sustainable weed control in groundnut fields. Various factors limiting the groundnut production and weeds are the primary factors which significantly reduce the crop yield. Weeds compete with groundnut for essential resources such as nutrients, water and space particularly during the early stages of crop growth, which is highly susceptible to weed competition due to its initial slow growth. A field experiment was conducted at Farmers field, Penumuru mandal, Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh during Rabi seasons of 2023 – 24.Field experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design and replicated thrice with the following treatments viz., T1 - PE pendimethalin 1.00 kg ha-1, T2 - PE pendimethalin @ 1.00 kg ha-1 + Hand weeding on 30 DAS I, T3 - PE pendimethalin @ 1.00 kg ha-1 + Twin wheel hoe weeding on 30 DAS, T4 - PE pendimethalin @ 0.75 kg ha-1 + EPOE imazethapyr @ 0.050 kg ha-1 on 15-20 DAS, T5 - PE pendimethalin @ 0.75 kg ha-1 + EPOE quizalofop ethyl @ 0.250 kg ha-1,T6- oxyfluorfen 0.250 kg ha-,T7 - PE oxyfluorfen @ 0.250 kg ha-1 + Hand weeding on 30 DAS, T8 - PE oxyfluorfen @ 0.250 kg ha-1 + Twin wheel hoe weeding on 30 DAS, T9- PE oxyfluorfen @ 0.250 kg ha-1 + EPOE imazethapyr @ 0.050 kg ha-1 on 15-20 DAS, T10 – PE oxyfluorfen @ 0.250 kg ha-1 + EPOE quizalofop ethyl @ 0.075 kg ha-1, T11 - Twin wheel hoe weeding on 20 and 45 DAS, T12 - Unweeded check. Growth parameters viz., plant height, number of branches plant-1, number of leaves plant-1, dry matter production and leaf area were recorded at 30 DAS, 60 DAS, 90 DAS and harvest stage. It was found higher with the pre-emergence application of pendimethalin at 0.75 kg ha⁻¹ combined with early post-emergence imazethapyr at 0.050 kg ha⁻¹. Physiological parameters which include leaf area index (LAI), crop growth rate (CGR), relative growth rate (RGR), and net assimilation rate (NAR) were estimated. The -pre-emergence application of pendimethalin at 0.75 kg ha⁻¹ combined with early post-emergence imazethapyr at 0.050 kg ha⁻¹ had maximum values of physiological parameters compared with other treatments at 60-90 DAS and 60-harvest stage.