Economic superiority of mulching and herbicide based weed management in kharif okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench]

Abstract

A comprehensive field investigation entitled “Response of Kharif Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] to Various Weed Management Practices” was conducted during the kharif season of 2019-20 at the PG Research Block, College of Horticulture, Sri Konda Laxman Telangana State Horticultural University (SKLTGHU), Rajendranagar, Hyderabad. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with twelve weed management treatments replicated thrice, encompassing chemical, cultural, mechanical, and integrated approaches. Treatments involved pre-emergence herbicides such as oxyfluorfen, pendimethalin, and oxadiargyl; post-emergence application of propaquizafop; organic mulching with rice straw; plastic mulching with black polythene; mechanical and manual weeding; stale seed bed technique with intercropping; and an unweeded control. Economic evaluation revealed marked differences among treatments. Black polythene mulch recorded the highest gross returns (₹380,144 ha⁻¹), net returns (₹267,180 ha⁻¹), and benefit-cost ratio (2.37), followed by pendimethalin-based integrated weed management practices. The unweeded control resulted in the lowest economic returns, indicating severe yield losses due to weed competition. The study highlights the economic superiority of mulching and integrated weed management strategies for profitable and sustainable kharif okra cultivation under Telangana agro-climatic conditions.