Author(s): A. JAYAPAL, V. MINI, A.R. RESMI, B. LOVELY AND G. SUJA

Abstract: Chocolate weed (Melochia corchorifolia), usually found along the roadsides and waste lands are now found to be invading the summer rice fallows of Onattukara sandy tract, where sesame is grown. Since much of the herbicides for controlling broad leaved weeds were found to be phytotoxic to sesame, a study was taken up at Onattukara Regional Agricultural Research Station, Kayamkulam, Kerala, from February 2021 to May 2021 to identify a suitable weed management measure for chocolate weed at Onattukara. Pre-emergent application of oxyfluorfen (T1), cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) (T2), imazethapyr (T3), glufosinate ammonium (T4), glyphosate (T5), unweeded control (T6) and hand weeding at 20 and 45 DAS (T7) were the treatments and were replicated thrice in Randomized block design. The results revealed that weed management measures have significant role in the growth and yield of sesame at Onattukara. Hand weeding produced better results in terms of growth and yield in sesame. Weed control efficiency was also found better for hand weeding but BC ratio was significantly higher in imazethapyr (2.02) treated plots. It is concluded that applying imazethapyr (@ 0.75 l ha-1) as a pre-emergent spray followed by weeding using cono-weeder at 15 days after sowing and one hand weeding at 30 days after sowing is required for managing M. corchorifolia in sesame.

DOI: 10.22271/09746315.2021.v17.i3.1516

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