Introduction to major field crops (1+1)

Weed Management

Weed infestation in groundnut is one of the main factors for loss in yields.Erect and bunch types suffer more than spreading types. Similarly, Kharif groundnut is affected more than rabi-summer groundnut. The weed competition at early stage of groundnut is maximum because of initial slow growth but it is relatively low at later stages where complete ground cover is attained by groundnut canopy. The critical period of crop-weed competition was reported to be between 30 and 45 days after sowing. The major weeds generally found in groundnut fields are: Cynodondactylon, Dactylocteniumaegyptium, Digitariasanguinalis, Sorghum halepense, (among monocots) andAmaranthusviridis, Celosia argentea, Euphorbia hirta, Tridexprocumbens, Abutilon indicum, Phylanthusniruri and Chenopodium album (among dicots).

Cultural method of weed control is a common practice in groundnut. Generally, one hand weeding or hoeing at 30 days after sowing (DAS) or two weedingsor hoeing at 15 DAS and 35 DAS control weed but it is time consuming, expensive and tedious. Care should be taken so that soil should not be disturbed at pod formation stage.Weeds can also be effectively controlled by use of herbicides. Pre-emergence application of Alachlor (1.5 kg/ha) or Fluchloralin (1.5 kg/ha) or Pendimethalin (1.0 kg/ha) control the weeds effectively.



Fig: Groundnut crop in the field.