Integrated weed control in drill-sown rainfed finger millet (Eleusine coracana)

Series of on-station field experiment and on-farm testing were conducted during 1994–99 on red sandy-loam soils of Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendra, Bangalore, and on the farmers’ fields of Bangalore, Kolar and Tumkur districts of Southern Karnataka, to evaluate the effects of herbicides, cultural and mechanical measures of weed control on yield of drill-sown rainfed finger millet [Eluesine coracana (L) Gaertn.]. Out of 8 herbicides tested, pre-emergence application of isoproturon @ 0.75 kg a.i./ha gave comparable yield (2, 907 kg/ha) to that of farmer's practice of 2 intercultivations and 1 hand-weeding (3, 078 kg/ha) and weed-free check-1 intercultivation and 2 hand- weedings (3, 177 kg/ha)-besides accounting for lower weed biomass (444, 125 and 59 kg/ha respectively) and higher weed-control efficiency (86.7, 96.2 and 98.2% respectively). Combinations of isoproturon @ 0.5 kg a.i./ha and cultural + mechanical measures of weed control have further enhanced the yield by 12.14% over no chemical. 2, 4-D sodium salt @ 0.75 kg a.i./ha as post-emergence spray 15–20 days after sowing was next best alternative herbicide. On farm trials confirmed the superiority of isoproturon to farmer's practice of weed control to an extent of 6.4% yield increase besides being less labour-intensive and providing effective weed control.