Effect of different organic sources and their combinations on weed growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Abstract

A field study was conducted at experimental farm of the Regional Research Station, Punjab Agricultural University, Gurdaspur during rabi season of 2014-15 to find out the effect of different sources of organic manures and their combinations on weed growth and wheat grain yield. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with eight treatments namely, control (T1), recommended dose of NPK+ weedicide (T2), farmyard manure + poultry manure (T3), farmyard manure + bagasse ash (T4), farmyard manure + rice husk ash (T5), poultry manure + bagasse ash (T6), poultry manure + rice husk ash (T7), and bagasse ash + rice husk ash (T8). The results indicated that maximum dry weight of grassy weeds (2.65 g/m2) and broad leaf weeds (2.10 g/m2) was recorded in treatment where poultry manure was used in combination with farmyard manure whereas minimum dry weight of grassy (1.15 g/m2) and broad leaf weeds (1.00 g/m2) was obtained in treatment where these were controlled chemically. The minimum grain yield was obtained in control treatment where neither organic manure was added nor weeds were controlled by using herbicide. Among different combinations of organic manures, it was found that wherever poultry manure was used in combinations, higher yields were obtained due to higher plant height, maximum number of effective tillers/m2, maximum spike length in comparison to other manure combinations. Within the treatment combinations, rice husk ash combinations resulted in higher yield and also effectively controlled the weeds as compared to bagasse ash combinations.