R. CHETHAN*, G. KARUNA SAGAR, B. SANDHYA RANI AND Ch. BHARGHAVA RAMI REDDY

Department of Agronomy, S.V. Agricultural College, ANGRAU, Tirupati.

ABSTRACT

Field experiment entitled “Organic weed management in maize (Zea mays L.)” was conducted during rabi, 2021-22 at Wetland Farm of S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India. Among all the organic weed management practices, significantly higher dry matter production, yield attributes and kernel yield were recorded with corn gluten meal @ 3.5 t ha-1 as PE fb HW at 30 DAS (W₉) over rest of the treatments. The next best treatment was hand weeding twice at 15 and 30 DAS (W₁), however it was at par with groundnut shells mulch @ 12.5 t ha-1 (W₂) and mango leaves mulch @ 5 t ha-1 (W₄). Mango leaves mulch @ 5 t ha-1 resulted in higher net returns, which was at par with hand weeding twice at 15 and 30 DAS (W₁) and groundnut shells mulch @ 12.5 t ha-1 (W₂). Finally, the present study has concluded that mango leaves mulch @ 5 t ha-1 or groundnut shells mulch @ 12.5 t ha-1 is considered to be the most effective, sustainable and economical weed management practice in maize under organic farming.

KEYWORDS: Corn gluten meal, Maize, Mulch, Organic and Weed management.