Author(s): SITANGSHU SARKAR, A.K. BHATTACHARJEE ANDS. MITRA

Abstract: A field experiment was conducted at Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibres (ICAR), Barrackpore, West Bengal to find out an effective pre-emergence herbicide for weed management in jute (cv. JRO 8432). Grasses, broadleaved weeds and sedges were found in the experimental field with highest intensity of infestation by grasses (90-95%). The predominant grass was Echinochloa colona (L.) Link. Phyllanthus niruri L., Physalis minima L. and Cleome sp were the dominant broadleaved weeds and the only sedge was Cyperus rotundus L. Trifluralin at 0.75-1.0 kg a.i./ha resulted higher weed control efficiency (86 - 91%) at 8 WAS as compared to two manual weeding and the same trend was obseived throughout the growth of jute. Among the different doses of Trifluralin, 0.75 kg a.i./ha gave the highest weed control efficiency for all date of observations, whereas, Trifluralin at 1.0 kg a.i./ha favoured growth of sedge weeds due to absolute control of Echinochloa colona leaving little interspecific competition for sedge. Application of 0.75-1.0 kg a.i./ha of Trifluralin at I day before sowing as pre-plant soil incorporation controlled grass and broadleaf weeds for a wider period starting from the early cropweed competition phase and yielded better (28 - 44% more) than the conventional two manual weeding. In the recommended dose of Trifluralin (up to l kg a.i./ha), there was no problem of residue in soil after the haivest of jute crop as evidenced from bioassay and HPLC studies.

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