Effect of Weed Management on Growth and Yield of Maize Grown under Different Tillage Systems

Abstract

A field trial was carried out in the kharif of 2022 and 2023 at Hisar, Haryana to evaluate the impact of different tillage practices and weed management strategies on growth and the productivity of kharif maize (Zea mays L.). The study included three tillage treatments: conventional flat planting, ridge planting and sowing by pneumatic planter. It also tested nine weed control methods. The experiment followed a split-plot design with three replications, with tillage methods assigned to the main plots and weed management practices to the subplots. 'NMH 589' was the maize variety used. At 30 DAS, ridge planting showed the maximum plant height and LAI with both pneumatic planter and conventional flat planting methods. Among the weed management practices, the combination of pre-emergence followed by one hand weeding was most effective, resulting in the higher plant height and LAI at 30 DAS. Significantly maximum grain yield was recorded in ridge planting methods with pyraxosulfone 127.5 g ha-1 as PRE fb hand weeding at 30 DAS during both kharif season.