Integrated nutrient management on weed dynamics of cotton based cropping systems in South India

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted at the farm of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India during 2007 and 2008 to assess the weed population, dry matter production, weed smothering efficiency and yield of seed cotton in a cotton based cropping system with conjunctive use of NPK and bioinoculants. Cotton intercropped with Sesbania along with application of Azospirillum and Pseudomonas recorded the lowest weed population and weed dry matter production. The maximum weed suppression of 54.5 and 44% was observed in cotton + Sesbania system as compared to pure crop of cotton during both the years. The maximum cotton equivalent yield of 2052 and 1895 kg ha^-1 was recorded in cotton + onion system which was at par with cotton + Sesbania system with cotton equivalent yield of 2010 and 1894 kg ha^-1 during 2007 and 2008, respectively. Combined application of 100 % recommended dose of NPK and bioinoculants recorded maximum cotton equivalent yield of 2460 and 2190 kg ha^-1 during 2007 and 2008, respectively.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/sja.v11i1.18371

SAARC J. Agri., 11(1): 7-22 (2013)