Journal of Research in Weed Science

Abstract The experiment was conducted in farmer field with farmer managed in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three treatments and seven replications. The treatments were weed management practices including (i) Farmer’s Practice (FP) (ii) Two manual weeding (iii) First manual weeding and 2nd weeding by post emergence herbicides (Temboterine and Atrazine) application in Inner-terai, Dang, Nepal. Results showed that first manual weeding and 2nd weeding by herbicides significantly reduced weed infestation and gave higher maize grain yield. The yield attributes were cob length, total number of grain, number of grain per row, cob weight with husk and cob weight without husk. Thus, herbicides used after 1^st manual weeding is successful for high maize yield.

Abstract Sustainable agriculture requires the use of environmentally friendly management practices. Mulching is one of the most effective methods that can play a positive role in weed management, improving soil properties as well as increasing crop production. A field experiment was conducted at the research farm of National Maize Research Program (NMRP), Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal during winter season, 2016. The experiment was carried out in single factor randomized completely block design comprising of nine weed management methods with four replications. Data regarding the weed population, weed dry weight, yield attributes and yield were recorded during the study. Different weed management practices showed significant differences on weed dynamics and weed control efficiencies. Black polythene mulch and silver black mulch was found more effective to reduce total weed density and dry weight during whole crop season and remain comparable with other polythene mulch too. The effect of weed management practices observed on weed density and dry weight were reflected on grain yield. The highest grain yield was recorded in silver black plastic mulch (4537.50 kg ha^-1) followed by black plastic mulch (4068.20 kg ha^-1), clear plastic mulch (4065.22 kg ha^-1), green plastic mulch (3834.84 kg ha^-1) and weed free (3222.74 kg ha^-1) which were comparable to each other. At tasseling-silking stage among plastic mulch treatment, the higher moisture conservation observed on the black plastic mulch followed by clear plastic mulch, green plastic mulch and silver black plastic mulch. While comparing of plastic mulch with dead mulch, moisture on dead mulch remain higher than plastic mulch after 90 DAS. Thus, in humid subtropical region of western Chitwan, Rampur, the maize can be successfully cultivated by using different color of polythene mulch.

Abstract The use of cover crops can be considered as an effective method in sustainable agriculture through reducing herbicide use, improving soil and increasing crop yield. An experiment was conducted using randomized complete block design with three replications in Agricultural and natural resources research center of Ardabil (Moghan) in 2015-2016. Cover crops was considered as the main factor (mixed wheat + crimson clover, monoculture wheat and mixed (rye + wheat)) and mulch management as subplots and control (no cover crop use post-emergence herbicide Maister (Foramsulfuron + Idosulfuron 3.1% OD)). The results showed no significant difference between treatments in terms biomass production, the lowest weed biomass was related mixed of rye + wheat in both crop management methods. In wheat and wheat+ rye a significant decrease was observed in crop yield components possibly due to the release of allelopathic materials and soil properties, But the crimson clover mix of wheat + maize yield satisfactory beside weed control a good yield was obtained after the treatment with herbicide. The results showed that the effect of cover crop, crop management and their interaction except grain weight, were significant for ear dry weight, biological yield, number of rows per ear and number of kernels per ear. The highest values of grain yield, ear dry weight, biological yield, number of grains per ear was achieved in treatments clover + wheat and the least amount of yield and yield components of treated wheat was obtained in residues removed management.