Effect of Different Weed Control Practices on Weed Dynamics, Crop Growth and Fibre Yield of White Jute (Corchorus capsularis L.)
Sarika Jena *
AICRP on Weed Management, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, 751003, India.
Pooja Konhar
AINP on Jute and Allied Fibres, Jute Research Station, Kendrapara, India.
G. Narendar
Department of Agronomy, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, 751003, India.
Anita Mahapatra
AICRPon Sun flower, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, 751003, India.
Suchismita Tripathy
Department of Agronomy, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, 751003, India.
Jyotirekha Pattanaik
Department of Agronomy, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, 751003, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Weed infestation constrains white jute production, while repeated manual weeding increases cultivation costs. A two-year field experiment was conducted at Jute Research Station, Kendrapara, during the kharif seasons of 2021 and 2022 to evaluate the efficacy of chemical, mechanical and manual weed management practices in white jute (Corchorus capsularis L.). Seven weed management treatments were evaluated using the variety JRC-698 (Shrabanti White) in a randomised block design, replicated thrice. The treatments comprised pre-emergence application of pretilachlor and pendimethalin, each followed by one hand weeding at 15 days after sowing (DAS); post-emergence application of quizalofop-ethyl and propaquizafop, each followed by one hand weeding 15 days after herbicide application; a mechanochemical approach involving nail weeder operation at 7 DAS followed by post-emergence application of quizalofop-ethyl 5 EC at 60 g/ha at 25 DAS; two hand weedings at 15 and 30 DAS; and an unweeded control. Among the different treatments evaluated, two hand weedings produced in the highest fibre yield, weed control efficiency, crop resistance index, and weed control index, along with the lowest weed index. The mechanochemical approach with nail weeder operation during the early stages of crop growth, followed by the post-emergence application of quizalofop-ethyl 5 EC at 60 g/ha at 25 DAS, ranked next and generated a net return of ₹66,415/ha with a benefit–cost ratio of 2.3. Therefore, integrating mechanical weeding with post-emergence herbicide application provides a promising and cost-effective alternative for effective weed management in white jute.
Keywords: White jute, Corchorus capsularis, integrated weed management, pre-emergence herbicides, post-emergence herbicides, nail weeder, hand weeding, weed control efficiency, fibre yield, benefit–cost ratio