Integrated weed management in winter onion (Allium cepa) under mid-hill conditions of north-western Himalayas

A field experiment was conducted during winter (rabr) season of 1996-97 and 1997-98 to study the effect of herbicides (fluchloralin, oxyfluorfen, pendimethalin and alachlor) alone and in combination with hand-weeding (45 days after transplanting) on weeds and onion (Allium cepa L.). Season-long crop-weed competition reduced the bulb yield by 81.2% compared to weed-free condition. All the weed-control treatments significantly reduced the population and dry weight of weeds and in turn increased the bulb yield significantly except oxyfluorfen 0.15 kglha compared to weedy check. Alachlor 2.0 kglha + hand-weeding 45 days after transplanting being at par with pendimethalin 1.5 kglha + hand-weeding at 45 days and weed-free proved to be the superior integrated weed-control approach to control weeds and increased the plant height, bulb diameter, bulb weight, weed-control efficiency. These treatments also registered higher additional net returns. But highest additional returnslrupee invested were obtained with alachlor 2.0 kglha. - Key words : Integrated weed management, Onion, Allium cepa, Herbicide, Yield