Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-m8qmq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-23T16:18:34.130Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Weed management in sorghum-legume intercropping systems

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

C. T. Abraham
Affiliation:
Division of Agronomy, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110 012, India
S. P. Singh
Affiliation:
Division of Agronomy, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110 012, India

Summary

The field experiments were conducted at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi in summer-rainy seasons of 1980 and 1981 to study the effect of different sorghum-legume intercropping systems and weed control methods on growth, yield and nutrient uptake by different crops and on weeds. The intercropping of legumes increased growth, uptake of N, P and K and yield of sorghum compared with sole sorghum. However, maximum increase was obtained when it was grown in association with fodder cow pea. All intercrops smothered the weeds but maximum suppression was by fodder cow pea. The total uptake of nutrients (N, P and K) was also greater in intercropping systems. Pre-emergence application of fluchloralin at 0·5 kg/ha was most effective in all intercropping systems followed by nitrofen at 1·0 kg/ha. Hand weeding and fluchloralin application also led to higher nutrient uptake by sorghum and the whole system than the unweeded control. Application of fluchloralin and nitrofen controlled most of the weeds and reduced nutrient removal compared with the control but was less effective than hand weeding.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1984

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Association Of Official Agricultural Chemists (1960). Methods of Analysis, 9th edn. Washington D.C., U.S.A.Google Scholar
Black, C. C, Chen, T. M. & Brown, R. H. (1969). Biochemical basis for plant competition. Weed Science 17, 338344.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
International Crops Research Institute For The Semi-Arid Tropics (1979). Farming systems - agronomy and weed science. Annual Report 1978–79, pp. 213219.Google Scholar
International Rice Research Institute (1980). Cropping systems programme. Annual Report 1979–80, pp. 414427.Google Scholar
Jackson, M. L. (1967). Soil Chemical Analysis, 2nd edn.New Delhi: Prentice-Hall of India.Google Scholar
Kolar, J. S., Singh, M., Sandhu, K. S. & Sidhu, A. S. (1979). Studies on weed control in mungbean (Vigna radiata var. aureus). Journal of Research, Punjab Agricultural University 16, 1418.Google Scholar
Okibo, B. N. (1979). Evaluation of plant interactions and productivity in complex mixtures as a basis for improved cropping systems design. In International Intercropping Workshop (Proceedings) held at ICRISAT, Patancheru, India, on 10–13 January, pp. 155179.Google Scholar
Patterson, D. T. (1982). Shading response of purple and yellow nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus and C. esculenlus). Weed Science 30, 2530.Google Scholar
Prakash, J. & Pahwa, S. K. (1979). Integration of cultural and chemical methods for effective weed control in mung and mash. Indian Weed Science Society Annual Meeting, Abstracts, p. 30.Google Scholar
Rao, A. N. & Shetty, S. V. R. (1981). Investigation on weed suppressing ability of smother cropping systems in relation to canopy development and light interception. In 8th Asian-Pacific Weed Science Society Conference (Proceedings), pp. 357364.Google Scholar
Singh, S. P. (1981). Studies on spatial arrangement in sorghum-legume intercropping system. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 97, 655661.Google Scholar
Snaydon, R. W. & Harris, P. M. (1979). Interactions below ground - the use of nutrients and water. In International Intercropping Workshop (Proceedings) held al ICRISAT, Patancheru, India, on 10–13 January, pp. 188201.Google Scholar
Trenbath, B. R. (1974). Biomass productivity of mixtures. Advances in Agronomy 26, 177210.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Waghmare, A. B., Krishnan, T. K. & Singh, S. P. (1982). Crop compatibility and spatial arrangement in sorghum-based intercropping systems. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 99, 621629.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Willey, R. W. (1979). Intercropping - its importance and research needs. Part I. Competitions and yield advantages. Field Crop Abstracts 32, 113.Google Scholar