Abstract

Field trial was carried out during the summer season of 2000 to find out the efficiency of different weed control practices in irrigated bhendi. Pre-emergence application of herbicides in combination with one hand weeding at 30 days after sowing (DAS) were more effective in controlling the weeds in producing higher yields of okra as compared to the rest of the treatments. The treatments comprised of three herbicides viz. pendimethalin, metolachlor and fluchloralin, applied either alone or as tank mixtures of two herbicides or in combination with one hand weeding at 30DAS, which were evaluated with farmers' practice (two hand weedings at 20 and 40 DAS), weed free check (repeated hand weedings) and weedy check. Cyperus rotundus was the predominant weed species observed in the experimental field. The results revealed that metolachlor @2 kg a.i. ha+ one hand weeding at 30 DAS was found to be very effective in checking the weeds as well as in increasing the yield of okra.

Keywords: Pre-emergence herbicides, Cyperus, Tank mixtures, Okra