Integrated weed management in lentil (Lens culinaris) in calcareous alluvial soils of Bihar

A field experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) season of 201213 and 201314, to study the effect of integrated weed management on weeds, nutrient removal and seed yield of lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus) on calcareous alluvial soils of Bihar. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design comprising of nine weed control treatments with four replications. The results revealed that lesser weed density, weed dry matter, higher weed control efficiency and lower weed index were observed under integrated weed management (IWM) practices of pendimethalin 300 g/ha as pre-emergence (PRE) + hand weeding (HW) at 40 days after sowing (DAS) and with ready mixed application of pendimethalin 205 g/ha + imazethapyr 14 g/ha as PRE. Higher crop growth, seed yield and yield attributing characters were found with the integrated treatment of pendimethalin 300 g/ha as PRE + HW at 40 DAS and pendimethalin 205 g/ha + imazethapyr 14 g/ha as PRE. The higher net returns and benefit: cost ratio was acquired with pendimethalin 205 g/ha + imazethapyr 14 g/ha as PRE.