Reduction in use of herbicides by combining aqueous extract of grass pea for weed management and yield of wheat

Abstract

Nowadays, the increasing costs in the agricultural sector, increasing public concern about the widespread use of herbicides and the development non-chemical methods of weed control programs are alerting management. In this regard, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of aqueous extract of grass pea residues on weed management and crop performance of wheat. The experiment was comprised of three varieties of wheat viz., BARI Gom-30, BARI Gom-31, BARI Gom-32 and six different levels of treatments such as no weeding, recommended dose of herbicide, aqueous extraction of grass pea, 90% recommended dose + aqueous extraction of grass pea,80% recommended dose + aqueous extraction of grass pea, 70% recommended dose +aqueous extraction of grass pea, 60% recommended dose + aqueous extraction of grass pea. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Weed population, weed dry weight and weed control efficacy were significantly influenced by aqueous extract of grass pea crop residues and varieties. The highest numbers of tillers hill^-1, numbers of grains spike^-1, 1000 grain weight and grain yield were observed where recommended dose of herbicide was used followed by the application of 90% recommended dose +aqueous extraction of grass pea. BARI Gom-31along with 90% recommended dose +aqueous extraction of grass pea produced the highest grain and straw yield among the treatment combination. Therefore, aqueous extract of grass pea crop residues might be used as an alternative way for weed management in effective and sustainable crop production.