ADOPT INTEGRATED APPROACH FOR CONTROLLING WEEDS IN TURMERIC – PAU AGRONOMISTS

LUDHIANA, APRIL28:



The agronomists of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), whetting the knowledge of the farmers, advised them to adopt integrated approach for controlling weeds in turmeric – the major spice crop of Punjab. Planted in April end to early May, the scientists pointed out that many times farmers are reluctant to go for the cultivation of this high value crop because of the heavy weed infestation.



The field trials were conducted for three years at PAU and one year at farmers' field to find out effective method for controlling weeds in turmeric, divulged Head of the Department of Agronomy, Dr G.S.Buttar. The field was irrigated immediately after planting. Three herbicides viz. Stomp 30EC (pendimethalin) 1300 ml/ac, Sencor 70WP (metribuzin) 400 g/ac, Atrataf 50WP (atrazine) 600 g/acre were applied in different plots by dissolving in 200 litres of water when it was easy to walk in the field and paddy straw mulch at 36 q/ac was spread uniformly in the entire plot immediately after herbicide spray, added he. Three hand hoeing at 30, 60 and 90 days after planting and un-weeded check plots were kept for comparison.



Educating the participants, Dr Buttar revealed that the presence of weeds in the field reduced the rhizome yield upto 73% in the research trials and by 46% at farmer's field. Combined use of paddy straw mulch with either of Stomp 30EC, Sencor 70WP and Atrataf 50WP provided effective control of weeds and increased the fresh turmeric rhizome yield by 2.5 times as compared to un-weeded check plot and about 1.5 times as compared to three hand hoed plot. He disclosed that the integrated use of herbicides and paddy straw mulch increased the net return by Rs 40,000 per acre as compared to un-weeded check plot and Rs 21,000 per acre as compared to hand hoed plot.



Dr M.S. Bhullar, PAU agronomist, elaborating, said that the effective control of weeds is desirable for getting the highest productivity and profitability in turmeric. He impressed upon the turmeric growers to use these three herbicides in rotation every year to control the weeds over the long run and cautioned that if any one of these herbicides is used continuously, one or more hardy weeds will become dominant and will be difficult to control with ordinary means. The farmers can get further guidance about weed control from the experts in the department of agronomy, PAU, Ludhiana, Regional Stations of PAU or from the Krishi Vigyan Kendras in the different districts.


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