Comparative Efficacy of Imazethapyr Spraying via Conventional and Inter-Row Herbicide Applicators on Growth Characteristics of Garden Pea (Pisum sativum L. var. hortense)

Abstract

The study was conducted during the rabi season of 2024–25 at the Agronomic Research Farm, R.S.M. (P.G.) College, Dhampur, Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, India, to evaluate the effect of herbicides and herbicide applicators on the growth and yield of garden pea, and to identify the most effective weed management strategy. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RBD) with three replications and seven treatments: T₁: pre-emergence (PE) application of pendimethalin @ 1 kg a.i. ha⁻¹, T₂: T₁ followed by (fb) post-emergence (PoE) application of imazethapyr @ 60 g a.i. ha⁻¹, T₃: T₁ fb PoE imazethapyr using a spray hood, T₄: T₁ fb PoE imazethapyr using inter-row herbicide applicator (IRHA), T₅: hand weeding at 15 and 30 DAS, T₆: weed-free, and T₇: weedy check (control). Observations included weed parameters (weed density, WCE, WI, and weed dry weight) and crop growth attributes. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences among treatments. As it is evident from result that weed-free (T₆) proved higher plant height (7.25cm and 51.71cm at 40 and 60 DAS respectively), number of branches (7.69 and 17.14 plant-1 at 40 and 60 DAS respectively), number of leaves (28.95 and 70.22 plant-1 at 40 and 60 DAS respectively) and leaf area (54.48 and 680.46 cm2plant-1) followed by T4 and minimum was recorded under weedy check (T₇).