Author(s): R. Y. P. LOKOSE, S. N. JENA, M. R. SATPATHY AND J. BEHERA

Abstract: A field experiment was conducted during 2015-016 and 2016-017 on loamy sand soil to assess the impact of two commonly used herbicides (pendimethalin and oxyfluorfen) and nutrient management on soil microbial populations in maize + cowpea intercropping system. The field experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with three replications. There were altogether 16 treatment combinations having main plot treatments (Nutrient management): F1= recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) i.e. 120, 60, 60 kg ha-1 N-P2O5-K2O, F2= RDF+FYM 5 t ha-1, F3= RDF+ 0.2 Lime requirement (LR), F4= RDF+FYM 5 t ha-1 + Lime 0.2 LR and sub-plot treatments (Weed management): W1= Pendimethalin 0.75 kg ha-1, W2= Oxyfluorfen 0.03 kg ha-1, W3= Farmer practices or hoeing and weeding at 20 days after sowing (DAS), W4= Weedy check. The results revealed that the herbicide treatments significantly inhibited the development of microbial populations in the soil at the initial stage after application of herbicide. No inhibition was observed after 30 days of application up to 60 DAA. Among the herbicides, oxyflourfen reduced the soil microbial population significantly as compared to pendimethalin at initial crop growth stage. The higher value of microbial population were observed under combined application of recommended NPK+ FYM along with lime as compared to mere application of recommended NPK.

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