Effects of irrigation and herbicides on the growth, yield and yield attributes of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) seasons of 2012-13 at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, to study the effect of irrigation and herbicides on the growth, yield and yield attributes of wheat under zero-tillage system. Results revealed that the highest density and dry weight of weeds and the maximum growth parameters, 1000-grain weight, protein yield, straw and grain yield and biological yield were recorded with the application of irrigation at 40 mm CPE over irrigation at 60 and 80 mm CPE. Among herbicidal treatments, application of sulfosulfuron (25 g/ha) resulted the lowest density and dry weight of weeds, the highest weed control efficiency and the lowest weed index thereby increased plant growth and yield attributes which produced the highest straw and grain yield, biological yield, protein content and protein yield over metribuzin and these were at par with metsulfuron methyl. None of the herbicidal treatments was found effective as weed free with respect to weeds, crop growth and yield.