Integrated weed management to enhance productivity in brinjal

Field experiment was carried out at the Regional Research Station, Paiyur, Tamil Nadu to study the weed management practice suitable for the growth and yield of brinjal in northwestern agro-climatic zone of Tamil Nadu. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design (RBD) with twelve treatments replicated three times. The treatments consisted of hand weeding, chemical weeding, mechanical weeding and integrated weed management. The weed density, weed dry weight and economic parameters viz net income and B-C ratio differed significantly among the treatments. The results revealed that pendimethalin (Stomp Xtra) 1.0 kg ai/ha along with hand weeding at 30-45 days after transplanting recorded significantly lesser weed density of broad leaved weeds (6.7/m²), grasses (5.5/ m²) and sedge (0.8/m^-2); lesser weed dry weight of broad leaved weeds (5.6 g), grasses (3.0 g) and sedge (0.10 g) at 30 days after transplanting. Highest net return (Rs 2,29,800/ha) with B-C ratio (5.00) was also noticed with the application of the same treatment. Thus among the various weed management practices, pendimethalin (Stomp Xtra) 1.0 kg ai/ha along with hand weeding at 30-45 days after transplanting was found to be the best weed management practice for brinjal cultivation in northwestern agro-climatic zone of Tamil Nadu to achieve higher productivity in brinjal.