2016, Vol. 4, Issue 6, Part C

author(s)
MP Semwal, Sunita T Pandey, V Pratap Singh, Ajit Kumar, Poonam Gautam, Sumit Chaudhary and Digendra Singh

abstract
Field experiments was conducted during Kharif season of 2014 and 2015 at MRDC of G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar (Uttarakhand), India to study the effect of planting geometries and weed control practices on growth and herbage yield of Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata Nees.). The findings of the study indicated that kalmegh growth related parameters like number of branches, plant spread and leaf area index were significantly influenced by the wider planting geometry over that of closure during both the years. However, plant height, dry matter accumulation by crop/m² and dry hectare herbage yield/ha were significantly influenced under the closing planting geometry as compared to wider during both the years. It was also observed that keeping weed free condition aside, the integration of weed management practices like application of pendimethalin 30 E.C PE.@1.0 kg a.i./ha + quizalofop ethyl 5 E.C. PoE @ 50 g a.i./ha at 3-5 leaves stage of weeds followed by mechanical weeding by hand hoe at 30-35 DAT and pendimethalin 30 E.C. PE @1.0 kg a.i./ha followed by mechanical weeding by hand hoe at 30-35 DAT proved effective in producing more plant height, number of branches, plant spread, leaf area index, dry matter accumulation by crop/m² and dry herbage yield/ha as compare to remaining treatments during both the years. The results also revealed that the interaction effects of these treatments with respect to dry herbage yield/ha were also found significantly during both the years. Therefore, based on the above two years findings it is concluded that an integrated approach of pre and post-emergence applied herbicides followed by mechanical weeding along with closured plating geometry produced the best result to achieving more dry herbage yield of kalmegh.