Control of hardy weeds in maize (Zea mays L.) and groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) at the farmers fields

Experiments were conducted on the farmers field during 2005 and 2006 for the control of some hardy weeds viz. Acrachne racemosa, Commelina benghalensis and Brachiaria reptans etc. in Hoshiarpur and Sangrur districts which are maize and groundnut growing districts of Punjab. All the integrated and tank mix herbicidal treatments recorded significantly higher grain yield of maize and less dry matter accumulation by weeds as compared to application of atrazine 1.0 kg ha⁻¹ alone (recommended). Tank mix application of atrazine 0.75 kg + pendimethalin 0.75 kg, atrazine 0.75 kg + alachlor 1.25 kg and atrazine 0.75 kg + trifluralin 1.2 kg ha⁻¹ increased maize grain yield by 17.6, 19.4 and 20.7 per cent than control (unweeded) and 7.9, 9.5 and 10.7 per cent than the recommended treatment i.e. atrazine 1.0 kg ha⁻¹. Similarly, integration of hand weeding with trifluralin 0.75 kg and pendimethalin 0.75 kg significantly reduced dry matter accumulation by weeds and significantly increased pod yield of groundnut as compared to the recommended treatments i.e. fluchloralin and alachlor and both these treatments increased pod yield of groundnut by 32.5 and 31.2 per cent, respectively, over unweeded control treatments and 9.1 & 7.9 per cent over the recommended treatment i.e. alachlor 2.5 kg ha⁻¹.