Impact of integrated weed management on growth and yield of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to study the impact of integrated weed management practices on growth and yield of cauliflower. The treatments namely, T1 (Hand weeding),T2 (Rice straw mulch), T3 (Mulching with eucalyptus leaves), T4 (Black plastic mulch), T5 (Pendimethalin @1.5 Kg/ha + black plastic mulch), T6 (Oxyfluorfen @1.5 kg/ha + black plastic mulch), T7 (Pendimethalin @1.5 Kg/ha + hand weeding), T8 (Oxyfluorfen @1.5 Kg/ha + hand weeding), T9 (Fluchloralin @1.5 Kg/ ha + hand weeding ) and T10 (Control) were evaluated. Results indicated that T6 recorded the maximum value of plant height, number of leaves, plant spread, earliest curd initiation, curd maturity duration, diameter of curd, curd size, quality trait and yield attribute. The application of T6 was most effective in reducing the weed density and dry matter of weeds at all stages of observation. Therefore, T6 was observed to be the best weed management treatment having highest weed control efficiency.