Weed Management Strategies in Wheat Adopted by Farmers in Punjab (original) (raw)

Society for Community Mobilization for Sustainable Development, 2016

Abstract

India has achieved a record wheat production of 93.9 mt during 2011-12. Punjab is one of the leading states in wheat production (17.94 mt) with second highest productivity of 5.10 t/ha and contribute significantly to the central grain pool. The wheat front line demonstrations conducted during 2011-12 have indicated a yield gap of 5.3 q/ha in Punjab and weed problem is considered to be one of the important reasons for not attaining the desired yield. Not only weeds cause 25 to 30 percent yield loss in wheat crop but increases cost of cultivation, interfere with agricultural operations, impair quality, and acts as an alternate host for several insect pests, diseases, and nematodes. Weeds also account for about one third of total losses caused by the pests of wheat. A survey was conducted during 2011-12 in randomly selected districts of Punjab viz., Patiala, Sangrur, Jalandhar and Mansa representing rice-wheat, rice-potato-wheat, ri ce-maize-wheat and cotton-wheat rotations. The results of the survey indicated that respondents were aware of crop rotation strategy to manage weeds and more than 43 percent of them had adopted it. All the sample farmers applied herbicides to control weeds, some of them did use herbicide twice in the same year. To achieve higher production, there should be timely sowing (last week of October to 20 November), adopt zero tillage technique, grow latest recommended varieties, seed treatment, maximum usage of certified/quality seeds, nutrient usage as per soil testing, timely control of weeds with uniform spray using flat fan nozzle and rotation of herbicides and crop rotations as effective strategies to control weeds.

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