Abstract

Heavy infestation of weeds in pearl millet seed crop curtails its seed yield and profitability. Chemical weed control in pearl millet at early growth stage with appropriate exclusive or pre-mixed herbicide and application timing is crucial for reducing yield losses and improve profitability. This two-year study including eight treatments was executed to ascertain different herbicides applied as pre-emergence (pendimethalin, atrazine, s-metolachlor and pre-mixed atrazine + s-metolachlor) and post-emergence (atrazine and pre-mixed atrazine + s-metolachlor) for effective weed control to improve growth, seed yield and profitability of pearl millet. Weed free and weedy check were used as controls. Atrazine (post-emergence) caused maximum decrease in weed density (98%) and weed dry biomass (93%) while increased weed control efficiency (WCE; 97%) and weed control index (WCI; 93%) which was comparable to weed free control. Likewise, this treatment resulted in the greatest increase in plant height (8%), leaf area (65%), stem thickness (10%), tillers plant-1 (6.22; 165%), seed weight (13.0 g; 41%), seed yield (1.73 t ha-1; 140%) and benefit:cost ratio (BCR; 2.55) and these results were followed by pre-mixed atrazine + s-metolachlor (post-emergence). A significant negative relationship of weed density with seed yield and WCE with yield loss indicates that reducing weed density through effective weed control practices can minimize yield loss. In conclusion, atrazine (post-emergence) increased seed yield and profitability of pearl millet by effective weed control and decreased yield loss; hence, it could be employed for enhancing seed production. However, pre-mixed atrazine + s-metolachlor (post-emergence) could be utilized as an alternative.