AMANDEEP KAUR, BHUPENDRA KOUL AND HINA UPADHYAY*
Department of Agronomy, School of Agriculture, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara-144 411 (Punjab),
India
*(e-mail: hina.18745@lpu.co.in ; Mobile no: 9039239832)
(Received: June 20, 2022; Accepted : August 12, 2022)
ABSTRACT
A field experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Farm of Lovely Professional University, Phagwara (Punjab) to study the weed competition in the intercropping systems of Pearl millet (Pennisetum
glaucum L.) with legumes as fodder. The experiment was comprised of pearl millet intercropped with cowpea and guar in a randomized block design (RBD) replicated thrice. Yield, growth and quality parameters were recorded during the research work. The growth parameters like plant height, number of leaves and leaf: stem ratio were periodically recorded at 30, 45 and at harvest. Proximate compositions were recorded after the harvest of the crop. Pendimethalin @ 0.75 kg a.i/ha in pearl millet+guar and pendimethalin @ 0.75 kg a.i/ha in pearl millet+cowpea had the highest plant height, number of leaves, leaf: stem ratio, leaf weight, stem weight, crude fiber and dry matter production. The lowest weed count was recorded in pendimethalin @ 0.75 kg a.i/ha (pearl millet+gaur) followed by pendimethalin @ 0.75 kg a.i./ha (Pearl millet+cowpea) as compared to control in both sole and intercropping systems. Thus, it is concluded that Pendimethalin @ 0.75 kg a.i./ha is effective in terms of growth and yield of pearl millet intercrops with guar and pearl millet intercrops with cowpea in comparison to other treatments.
Key words : Weed competition, herbicides, intercropping, legume, sustainable weed management