Evaluation of critical period for weed crop competition in growing broccoli crop

Abstract To standardize the existing approach of single weeding in cole crops practiced by most of the vegetable growers, a two-year field trial was designed to figure out the critical period for weed competition in broccoli (Brassica oleraceae L. var. italica). Two broccoli varieties “Rocco” and “Galabrease” were used with weeding intervals of 15, 30, 45, and 60 days after transplantation (DAT) along with a weedy check (control). Ten-gram (10 g) seed of various weed species was sown in each plot to get sufficient weed influx. Growth and yield parameters of broccoli including head diameter, number of axillary shoots, the weight of axillary shoots, total yield, and marketable yield, while weed parameters viz. weed density and fresh weed biomass were recorded during experimentation. Results revealed that Rocco a hybrid variety of broccoli performed significantly better than Galabrease for various growth and yield parameters at all weeding intervals. As regards the effect of various weeding treatments, the best treatment was hoeing 15 DAT followed by 30 DAT. Delayed hoeing beyond this critical period of 15 to 30 DAT correspondingly decreased all the growth and yield parameters, the untreated control showing the lowest value. Weed infestation had a strong negative correlation with the yield parameters of broccoli. It is concluded from the present study that weed density of 1 plant m−2 would result in a loss of 0.062 t ha−1 of marketable yield in broccoli, which warrants timely management of weeds to obtain the optimum yield of broccoli.