AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATION CENTRE

www.arccjournals.com / indianjournals.comIndian J. Agric. Res.., 47 (4) : 311 - 316, 2013

PRODUCTIVITY AND ECONOMICS OF SOYBEAN (GLYCINE MAX) ASINFLUENCED BY WEED MANAGEMENT PRACTICES UNDER RAINFED

SITUATIONS OF SOUTH-EASTERN RAJASTHAN

B.S. Meena* and B.L. Dhaka

MPUAT Krishi Vigyan Kendra,Bundi- 323 001, India

Received: 03-08-2012 Accepted: 19-05-2013

ABSTRACTA field experiment was conducted during rainy seasons of 2008 and 2009 on clay loam soil of

Bundi to evaluate performance of soybean genotypes. Two hand-weeding at 20 and 35 DAS recordedsignificantly higher filled pods/ plant(41.90), seeds/pod(3.33),seed index(12.20 g), seed yield(14.85q/ ha) and return(Rs 24,460 /ha ) over farmer’s practice followed by 1 kulpa at 20 DAS + 1 HW at 35DAS and application of Imazethapyr 75 g / ha at 15 DAS + 1HW at 35 DAS. The highest benefit: costratio (1.72) was obtained with 1 kulpa at 20 DAS+ 1HW at 35 DAS. Significantly lower weed density(40.70/m2), weed dry weight (366.30 kg/ha) at harvest and highest weed control efficiency (56.78%)were obtained with use of Imazethapyr 75 g / ha at15 DAS + 1HW at 35 DAS over rest of treatment.Among soybean genotype, JS-95-60 significantly gave higher seeds/pod (3.38), 100-seed weight(13.25 g), seed yield (15.90 q/ha), return (Rs 26,140 /ha) and B: c ratio (2.12) over farmer’s practiceand was on par with JS-93-05. Hence, it is concluded that soybean genotype JS-95-60 with use ofeither one kulpa at 20 DAS+ 1HW at 35 DAS or two HW at 20 and 35 DAS provide higher yield andbenefit under rainfed situations.

Key words: Imazethapyr, Soybean,Weed control efficiency, Weed management, Yield.

*Corresponding author’s e-mail: bsmeena1970@yahoo.inPresent address:H.No.B-17,SukhDham Colony Baran Road,Kota(Rajasthan- 324005, India

INTRODUCTIONSoybean ((Glycine max) is known as the

golden bean of the 21st century. It is a legume butwidely grown for oil purpose. It has great potentialas a kharif oil seed and has emerged as an importantcommercial oilseed crop in south-eastern part ofRajasthan with an area of 6.920 lakh ha andproductivity of 1103 kg /ha as against India averageyield of 1006 kg /ha ( Jha, 2010).In Rajasthan, itsaverage productivity is quite low. Reasons for its lowproductivity include inadequate weed control at earlycrop growth stage (first 30 days), use of long durationgenotype and aberrant weather situations. Longduration genotype of soybean is exposed to moisturestress problem due to early withdrawn of monsoonduring grain filling stages, which consequently reducethe productivity. With the development of highyielding early mature genotype would ensure stabilityand higher profit per unit area of land and has

potential to produce 15-20% higher seed yield thanother existing varieties (Chaturvedi et al., 2010).

Weeds lead to on seed yield reduction of20.27 to 52.15 %. In Rajasthan, the annual loss dueto weeds in soybean yield was about 213724 t andin term of money it was estimated to be around Rs534.31 crores. (KDR, 2011). Being the conventionalmethod of weed control is expensive and laborious.The effectiveness of used herbicide in heavy soils islow under such a situation of receiving no rains /long dry spell after its application will not controlweeds. The estimated yield gap per hectare betweendemonstration and state average yield stands at 4.47to 6.50 q and to bridge this gap, needs integratedapproach of mechanical and cultural methods ofweed control. But the information on mechanizingweeding in soybean is very meager. Keeping thesefacts in view, the present investigation was plannedto develop suitable weed management practice forrainfed soybean.

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MATERIALS AND METHODS A field experiment comprising 5 weedmanagement practices in sub-plots and 3 genotypesin main plots was conducted during kharif seasonsof 2008 and 2009 at farmer’s field of Gothara, Bundidistrict in rainfed condition in south- eastern plainsof Rajasthan. The soil of the farmer’s field were clayloam with pH ranging from 7.9 to 8.4, medium inavailable N (278 kg/ha), P (13.79 kg/ha), high inavailable K (349 kg/ha). The average annual rainfall of the area was about 665 mm. The sub plottreatments comprised T1– 1 kulpa (narrow bladeintercultural implement) at 20 days after sowing(DAS), T2–1kulpa at 20 DAS and 1 hand weeding(HW) at 35 DAS, T3 – 2 HW at 20 DAS and 35DAS, T4 –Imazethapyr @75 g / ha as post-emergence (Po.E) at 15 DAS and T5 –Imazethapyr@75 g / ha Po.E at 15 DAS + 1 HW at 35 DAS.Three improved genotypes i.e. T1- JS-335 (Farmer’spractice), T2- JS -93-05 and T3- JS- 95-60 werekept in main plots. These treatments were laid outin split -plot design with five replications. Eachfarmer’s field was considered as a replicationaccommodated all fifteen treatments. Sowing wasdone on 5 July in 2008 and 03 July in 2009 usingseed rate of 80 kg / ha at a row spacing of 30 cm,during both the years in a plot size of 60 x10 m (600m2) for each strip of genotype and 12 x10 m foreach weed management practice treatment, followedrandomization within each strip of genotype. All therecommended cultural operations to raise the cropwere followed as and when required. Crop washarvested manually in last week of September to firstfortnight of October in 2008 and 2009, respectively.Knap-sack sprayer fitted with flat fan nozzle was usedfor herbicidal application, using a spray volume of600 liters /ha. Data on growth, yield attributes, yieldand economics were calculated as per the standardprocedures. Weed counts (number/m2) and weeddry weight (kg / ha) were recorded by putting aquadrant (0.25 m2) ± at 2 random spots in eachplot at 60 DAS and harvest stage of crop. Weedcontrol efficiency and weed index were also workedout to assess the efficiency of different weed controltreatments.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONMajor weed flora:The major weed flora ofexperimental field consisted of Digera arvensis Forsk,Commelina benghalensis (L.), Corchorus spp.

Euphorbia hirta (L.), Celensia argentea, Phyllanthusninuri (L.), Cyanotis axillaris (L.), Cynodon dactylon,Cyperus rotundus (L.), Echinochloa crusgalli (L.)and Echinochloa colona (L.) with the relative densityof 12.75, 10.70, 3.44, 5.49, 6.33,3.25, 3.94, 10.50,11.30 , 19.30 and 13.0 %, respectively at harvest.Among them Digera arvensis (L.), Commelinabenghalensis (L.) and Phyllanthus ninuri (L.) werethe most pre-dominant dicot weed species with theaverage density of 29.78% of total weed density andamong monocot, relative density of Cyperusrotundus (11.30%) and Cynodon dactylon (10.50%) were maximum due to quick regeneration andsurvival capacity as well as greater competitive abilitythan other weeds.

Total weed population and weed dry matter:Thepooled analysis showed that all weed managementpractices caused significant reduction in weeddensity, and dry weight of weeds at 60 DAS and atharvest compared to farmer‘s practice (Table 1).Weed management practices reduced 34.14 to57.59%, and 25.06 to 49.50% and 33.75 to56.78%, and 25.12 to 49.50 % density and drymatter of total weeds at 60 DAS and at harvest,respectively as compared to farmer’s practice (1kulpa). However, lowest density (24.6 &40.7/m2)and dry weight of total weeds (225.6 &366.3 kg /ha) at 60 DAS and at harvest, respectively andhighest weed control efficiency (56.8 and 49.5 %),lower weed dry matter (225.6 and 366.3 kg / ha),lower weed population (24.6 and 40.7 /m2) at 60DAS and at harvest, respectively and lower weedindex (2.4) were recorded under application ofImazethapyr @75 g / ha at 15 DAS + 1 HW at 35DAS which was significantly superior over rest ofweed management practices. The effective controlof weeds under these treatments resulted in thehighest weed-control efficiency. The highest weedindex (16.5%) was recorded in the farmer’s practiceand lowest weed index (0.54) in 1 kulpa at 20 DASand 1 HW at 35 DAS as the minimum weedcompetition due to better effect of this on weed.Similar results were reported by Gowri Priya et al.(2009). Application of Imazethapyr @75 g / ha at15 DAS + 1 HW at 35 DAS provided higher weedcontrol efficiency (56.8 and 49.5 %). Similarobservation was reported by Suresh and Reddy(2010).

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Soybean genotypes did not influence theweed density, but significantly increased dry weightof weeds at 60 DAS and at harvest. The lowest weeddry weight(330.1 kg / ha and 490.2 kg / ha) wasrecorded in JS-335 treatment plot at both stageswhich was significantly lower registered decrease of16.09,29.69 % and 28.34 and 39.95 % weed dryweight at 60 DAS and harvest stage over JS-93-05and JS-95-60 genotype, respectively due to suppressweed growth by more leaf canopy of JS-335. Thehighest weed control efficiency (32.4 %) wasrecorded in JS-335 and the least in JS-95-60 asmaximum weed competition.

Effect of different weed management practiceon soybeanGrowth and Yield attributes: Different weedmanagement practices had no significantlydifference in maturity period and seeds / pod (Table2),but significantly influenced the plant height andmaximum plant height (58.88 cm) was recorded with1 kulpa at 20 DAS + 1 HW at 35 DAS. It was 17.52% significantly increase over farmer’s practice andwas remained on par with 2 HW at 20 and 35 DAS, Imazethapyr @75 g / ha at 15DAS and andImazethapyr @75 g / ha at 15 DAS + 1 HW at 35DAS . The highest pods / plant (57.20) wereregistered in1kulpa at 20 DAS + 1 HW at 35 DASwhich was significantly higher over farmer’spractice(47.25) and Imazethapyr @75 g / ha at 15DAS(50.15) and was statistically on par with 2HWat 20 and 35 DAS and Imazethapyr @75 g / ha at15 DAS + 1 HW at 35 DAS .1 kulpa interculture at20 DAS + 1 HW at 35 DAS showed 21.05 and14.05% increase in number of pods / plant overfarmer’s practice and Imazethapyr @75 g / ha at15 DAS , but the highest filled pods per plant (42)was recorded in Imazethapyr @75 g / ha at 15 DAS+ 1 HW at 35 DAS which was significantly higherover farmer’s practice, Imazethapyr @75 g / ha at15 DAS and 1 kulpa at 20 DAS + 1 HW at 35 DASand on par with 2HW at 20 and 35 DAS .ThePercent increased was 19.66, 15.06, and 4.48 %,respectively due to complete weed free environmentto crop throughout the growing season. All weedmanagement practices had no significant influenceon the seeds / pod of soybean. Similar findings werealso reported by Gowri Priya et al. (2009) in soybean.The highest 100-seed weight (12.20 g) was registeredin 2 HW which was 11.93 % significantly higher

over farmer’s practice (10.90 g) and were on parwith Imazethapyr @75 g / ha at 15 DAS + 1 HW at35 DAS , 1 kulpa at 20 DAS + 1 HW at 35 DAS ,and Imazithapyr @75 g / ha at 15DAS in respect to100-seed weight, followed by Imazethapyr @75 g /ha at 15 DAS + 1 HW at 35 DAS that recorded12.10 g seed index. The superior performance of 1kulpa at 20 DAS + 1 HW at 35 DAS could beattributed to the reduced weed crop competition inthe initial stages and removal of late-emerged weedsby 1HW at 35 days. Kushwah and Vyas (2005),also reported such effects on growth and yieldattributes of soybean.

Among the three soybean genotypes, JS-95-60 genotype took significantly minimum days inmaturity (82) in comparison to farmers’ practice(101) and JS-93-05 (94).It matured 19 and 12 daysearly from JS-335 and JS-93-05, respectively (Table2). Variation in days to maturity among genotypewas attributed to their genetic characteristics. JS-95-60 significantly produced the shortest plants thanJS-335 and was remained at par with JS-93-05.Thegenotype JS-335 recorded the highest pods / plantclosely followed by JS-93-05 which was significantlysuperior than JS-95-60, while the lowest filled pods/ plant was recorded in JS- 335.However allgenotypes had no significantly differences in filledpods / plant (Table 2). Among soybean genotypes,JS-95-60 significantly gave higher seeds / pod (3.38),100-seed weight (13.25) over farmers, practice andwas remained at par with JS- 93-05. .Similar resultswere reported by Kuchlan et al. (2010).

Yield and Economics: Among weed managementpractices, two hand-weeding at 20 and 35 DASresulted in the highest seed (14.85 q/ ha) andbiological yield (16.80 q /ha) followed by 1kulpa at20 DAS + 1 HW at 35 DAS and Imazethapyr @75g / ha at 15 DAS + 1 HW at 35 DAS and significantlysuperior to farmer’s practice and Imazethapyr @75g / ha at 15 DAS. The next best treatment was 1kulpa at 20 DAS + 1 HW at 35 DAS which wassignificantly increased seed yield (14.77 q / ha) overfarmer’s practice (12.40 q/ha) and Imazethapyr @75g / ha at 15 DAS (13.0 q/ha) and on par withImazethapyr @75 g / ha at 15 DAS + 1 HW at 35DAS owing to better growth and yield contributingparameters of crop. The results are in conformitywith the findings of Kushwah and Vyas (2005).

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All weed management practices, significantlyinfluenced returns of soybean (Table 2). The return(Rs 24,332 / ha) obtained under 1 kulpa at 20 DAS+ 1 HW at 35 DAS was significantly superior thanfarmer’s practice (Rs 20,540 /ha) and Imazethapyr@75 g / ha at 15 DAS (Rs 21,500 /ha) and was onpar with 2 HW at 20 and 35 DAS (Rs 24,460 /ha)and Imazethapyr @75 g / ha at 15 DAS + 1 HW at35 DAS (Rs 23,900 /ha). The highest B:C ratio(1.72) was obtained under 1 kulpa at 20 DAS + 1HW at 35 DAS owing to minimized cost of weedingby use of tractor- drawn narrow bladeimplement(kulpa) as interculture operation. Thelower B:C ratio(1.62) was recorded with 2 HW at20 and 35 DAS, which may be because of moreman days engaged in manual weed control resultedin higher cost of weeding. The highest cost ofcultivation (Rs 15,125 / ha) was recorded under 2HW at 20 and 35 DAS. Whereas lowest cost ofcultivation (Rs 12,275 / ha) was recorded underfarmer’s practice.

The genotype JS-95-60 also significantlygave higher seed yield (15.90 q / ha) over farmers,

practice (12.66 q / ha) and remained at par withJS-93-05 (15.75 q / ha).The higher seed yield of JS-

95-60 may be attributed to better expression of yieldcomponents of the genotype as compared with othergenotypes of soybean under ideal nutritionalcondition in rainfed situation and no shortage ofmoisture at critical stages i.e. pod filling, flowering.Reduction in grain yield in long duration genotypewas due to poor performance and lower values ofyield attributes owing to shortage of moisture at grainformation stage. The return and B:c ratio were alsohighest in JS-95-60 (Rs 26,140 / ha) and 2.12) thatwas significantly superior over farmers, practice (Rs20,956 /ha and 1.70) and remained at par with JS-93-05(Rs 25,900 /ha and 2.10) owing to higher grainyield and better market price owing to bold seed size.Similar results have been reported by Mashiat Ali(2009).

From the present investigation, it may beconcluded that soybean genotype JS-95-60 can besuccessfully grown with integration of mechanizingweeding i.e. 1 kulpa at 20 DAS + 1 HW at 35 DASor application of Imazethapyr 75 g / ha at 15 DAS+ 1 HW at 35 DAS could be most remunerativeweed management practice for rainfed soybean inVertisols of south-eastern Rajasthan.

REFERENCESChaturvedi,S.,Chandel,A.S.,Dhyani,V.C.and Singh,A.P. (2010). Productivity, profitability and quality of soybean

(Glycine max) and residual soil fertility as influenced by integrated nutrient management. Indian.J. Agronomy55 : 133-137.

Gowri Priya, George,T, Rajkannan, B. and Jayakumar, R. (2009). Efficiency of weed control practices in soybeancrop production. Indian J. Weed Sci. 41:58-64

Jha, Dilip Kumar. (2010). Soybean yield set to hit all-time high.http://www.business-standard. com/india/printpage.php?autono= 41.

Kuchlan, P, Husain, S. M. and Chauhan, G. S. (2010). Evaluation of soybean (Glycine max) genotypes for seedlongevity.Indian Jouranal of Agricultural Sciences 80 (2):141- 145.

KDR, Krishi Digdarshika-Rajasthan (Fourth Ed.).(2011). Vishv Krishi Sanchar,Kota, Rajasthan.11p.Kushwah, S. S. and Vyas, M .D.(2005).Herbicidal weed-control in soybean (Glycine max.). Indian. J.Agron., 50: 225-227.Masihat Ali.(2009).Performance of early maturing soybean varieties in humid south- eastern plain zone-V.In:proceeding

Kharif ZREACmeeting on Kharif Results-2009, held at ARS,Kota, Rajasthan during 16-17 March.Suresh, G. and Reddy, B. N. (2010). Effect of weed control practices on weed dry matter, production potential and

nutrient uptake of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) in Vertisols. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 80(1):33-37.