INTEGRATED WEED MANAGEMENT IN FLOWER CROPS INVOLVING GOAT GRAZING AND POLYETHYLENE MULCHING

On-farm participatory field experiments in southern India compared the efficiency of goat grazing and polyethylene mulching in tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) grown by the development partners of Pudhupalayam cluster comprising three villages viz., Padiagraharam, Devanenthal and Periyeri in the National Agricultural Innovation Project implemented by Annamalai University. Results of two year experiments indicated that goat grazing reduced the infestation of Cyperus rotundus by 72 per cent and Trianthema portulacastrum by 23% .. Mulching with polyethylene film of 100µ thickness for 40 days from May reduced the Trianthema portulacastrum by 84%, whereas the same proved ineffective on Cyperus rotundus. Integration of goat grazing at 15 days interval in the off-season from March to May with polyethylene mulching during May before growing tuberose in middle of June performed better than traditional hand weeding and herbicide treatments in terms of weed control and crop performance.