Author(s): S. RAHAMAN AND P. K. MUKHERJEE

Abstract: Field studies were conducted in West Bengal, India, in 2009, to evaluate the efficacy of rice straw mulching and herbicides in the control of weeds in jute. The treatments comnprised fluchloralin at 1.0 kg/ha as pre-emergence, fluchloralin at 0.70 kg/ha as pre-emergence, followed by hand weeding at 35 days after sowing (DAS), quizalofop ethyl at 50 g/ha as post-emergence treatment at 21 DAS, quizalofop ethyl at 50 g/ha as post-emergence treatment at 21 DAS, followed by hand weeding at 35 DAS, fenoxaprop ethyl at 50 g/ha as post-emergence treatment at 21 DAS, fenoxaprop ethyl at 50 g/ha as post-emergence treatment at 21 DAS, followed by hand weeding at 35 DAS,rice straw mulching at 8.0 t/ha at 15 DAS after thinning and hand weeding, a completely weed free treatment (hand weeding) and a non-weeded control. Data were recorded on the dry weight of weeds, weed control efficiency, weed index, plant height, basal girth, fibre yield, net return and cost benefit ratio. Results showed that rice straw mulchiug at 8 t/ha, applied after thinning and hand weeding at 15 days after sowing was effective in controlling weeds, resulting in the highest yield and yield attribute values, net return and cost benefit ratio compared to all other treatments.

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