Herbigation in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench): An innovative weed management approach

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during 2019-20 at College of Agriculture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara to assess the efficiency of oxyfluorfen through herbigation and conventional spraying in okra. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with ten treatments and three replications. Among the treatments, conventional spraying with oxyfluorfen @ 0.15 kg ha-1 two days before sowing (DBS) followed by hand weeding (HW) at 30 days after sowing (DAS) and conventional spraying with oxyfluorfen @ 0.20 kg ha-1 two DBS followed by HW at 30 DAS recorded lesser weed dry weight and it was on par with hand weeded control. Herbigation treatments resulted in significant reduction in weed dry matter production and higher weed control efficiency at later stages of crop growth as compared to unweeded control. Even though, conventional spraying recorded lesser weed count and weed dry weight, the yield was less due to the scorching of crop foliage. Yield of 13.04 t ha-1 could be realized under hand weeded control and it was on par with herbigation of oxyfluorfen @ 0.15 kg ha-1 two DBS followed by HW at 60 DAS and conventional spraying with oxyfluorfen @ 0.15 kg ha-1 two DBS followed by HW at 60 DAS. Herbigation with oxyfluorfen @ 0.15 kg ha-1 two DBS followed by HW at 60 DAS resulted in higher gross income and B:C ratio which was closely followed by conventional spraying with oxyfluorfen @ 0.15 kg ha-1 two DBS followed by HW at 30 DAS.