Herbicidal Management of Cuscuta spp. in Berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) Crop
Himalay Sahu *
Department of Agronomy, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur, India.
Nitish Tiwari
Department of Agronomy, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur, India.
Thakkar Singh
Department of Agronomy, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur, India.
D. Anil
Department of Agronomy, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur, India.
Harendra Kumar
Department of Agronomy, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: To correlate the efficiency of herbicides towards control of Dodder (Cuscuta spp.) in green forage and seed yield of berseem crop.
Study Design: Randomized block design (RBD).
Place and Duration of Study: Research cum Instructional Farm, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur (C.G.) during the Rabi season of 2019-20.
Methodology: The experiment consisted of three replications and ten treatments, in which oxyfluorfen was applied as pre-emergence herbicide and pendimethain was applied as pre-emergence and early post-emegence herbicide while imazethepyr, imazamox 35 % + imazethapyr 35 % (ready mix) and sodium acifluorfen 16.5 % + clodinafop-propargyl 8 % (ready mix) were applied as post-emergence herbicides in different proportion along with control.
Results: No cuscuta infestation was observed during the experimentation period under any treatments (T1, T2, T3). Highest cuscuta length (41.20 cm), threads (3.00/m2), and dry weight (0.49 g/m2) were recorded just before 1st cutting with treatment (T7). Just before 2nd cutting, the highest cuscuta length (46.32 cm), threads (4.00/m2), and dry weight (0.74 g/m2) were recorded with treatment (T5) and before 3rd cutting, the highest cuscuta length (53.11 cm), threads (5.00/m2), and dry weight (1.06 g/m2) recorded under control (T10). No cuscuta infestation after herbicide application in all treatments. The significantly highest total green forage and seed yield of 60.12 ton/ha and 0.35 ton/ha were recorded under the pre-emergence application of oxyfluorfen 250 g/ha (T3) as compared to the rest of the treatments.
Conclusion: The selective action of oxyflourfen, pendimethalin, and imazethapyr on berseem and non-selective control of weeds, including cuscuta spp., resulted in minimal weed competition during critical growth stages. This created a favourable environment for berseem, leading to improved growth, yield quality, and overall crop productivity. The effective herbicidal treatments played a vital role in enhancing berseem yield.
Keywords: Berseem, herbicide, Cuscuta spp, threads