Author(s): A. KUMAR, S. MANUJA, J. SINGH AND D. R. CHAUDHARY

Abstract: Under dry temperate conditions of Western Himalayas limited information is available on control of weeds in cauliflower using herbicides. Field experiment was conducted during 2010 and 2011 to develop weed management practice for cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis).The weed control strategy included pendimethalin, fluchloralin and isoproturon in different doses and combination constituting thirteen treatments. The application of pendimethalin 1.5 kg ha^-1 and fluchloralin 1.0 kg ha^-1 were the effective herbicides in reducing the weed density of both narrow and broadleaf weeds at all the stages of observation. However when these herbicides were applied at lower dose of 0.75 kg ha^-1 and supplemented with one hand weeding at 30 days after transplanting then the weed biomass reduction was highest with weed control efficiency more than 90% compared to their higher rate application having weed control efficiency of 70-80%. Hand weeding twice at 30 and 60 days after transplanting was equally effective at later stages for reducing weed density and weed biomass in comparison with herbicides. Pendimethalin 1.5 kg ha-1 was observed to be best weed management treatment in terms of average curd weight, total curd yield and net returns. Although the next best yields are obtained when two hand weeding were practiced at 30 and 60 days after transplanting but in terms of net returns pendimethalin and fluchloralin each at 1.0 kg ha^-1 as pre emergence were the second best option.

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