Effect of Post-Emergence Herbicidal Combinations Tank Mixed with Zinc or/and Iron Sulphate on Weed Index and Economics in Wheat Crop (Triticum aestivum)

Wheat (Triticum aestivum) is second most important staple crop in India after rice. Weeds have emerged as the major biotic stress in wheat. Post-emergence herbicidal combinations are used widely to control the complex weed flora in wheat crops. Over the past decades, micronutrient deficiency has emerged as major constraint in wheat production, especially zinc and iron. The field experiment was conducted at RRS, Bawal, Haryana, during Rabi season of 2018-19. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design having 3 replications; each having 18 treatments. Four herbicidal combinations were evaluated as sole and tank mixed with zinc or/and iron sulphate. Weedy check and weed free were maintained throughout the experiment. The weed index was calculated from the yield of weed free and respective treatment yield. Economic evaluation was made in terms of gross returns, net returns, and benefit-cost ratio. Results of experiment revealed that application of mesosulfuron + iodosulfuron @ 14.4 gha-1 was most effective herbicidal combination among the tested herbicidal combinations and yielded lowest weed index. Tank mixing of micronutrients with herbicidal combinations further lowered down the weed index and even negative values were obtained. Tank mixing of herbicidal combinations with micronutrients was more economical than application of sole herbicidal combinations. Highest net returns and benefit cost ratio was recorded under mesosulfuron + iodosulfuron @ 14.4 gha-1 + ZnSO4 (0.5 %) + Urea (2.5 %) + FeSO4 (0.5 %) followed by sulfosulfuron + metsulfuron @ 32 gha-1 + ZnSO4 (0.5 %) + Urea (2.5 %) + FeSO4 (0.5 %).