| Abstract: | Pakistan ranks third among the chickpea growing countries of the world. Chickpea need less water that is why it is preferred by the farmers of the arid and semi- arid zone. The chickpea crop is severely infested by many weeds which reduce its yield and also deteriorate the quality of the grains. The un-availability of high competitive cultivars also had impact on the annual yield production of chickpea crop. The focus of the study was to evaluate sound, feasible and economic weed management strategies to uplift the yield of chickpea crop. The Southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are the major producer of chickpea crop. Therefore keeping in view the importance of the crop and as well as the problems associated with the crops, the experiments were conducted at Ahmad Wala Research Station Karak during years 2011–12 and 2012–13 with Randomized Complete Block design with split split arrangement having four replications. Sowing was done on October 16th during both the studied years. To evaluate the potential of irrigation verses rainfed conditions five cultivars i.e. Karak-1, Karak-2, Sheenghar, Lawaghar and KC-98 and ten weed management techniques i.e. Stomp 330 EC (Pendimethalin), Stomp 330 EC + Hand Weeding (HW) at 60 DAS, Dual Gold 960 EC (S-Metolachlor), Dual Gold 960 EC + HW at 60 DAS, HW one time at (30 DAS), HW two times at (30 and 60 DAS), HW three times at (30, 60 and 90 DAS), White plastic mulch, Black plastic mulch and weedy check were tested. The data was recorded on the below mentioned parameters i.e. weed density m?2 at 60 DAS, number of productive branches plant?1, number of pods plant?1, number of grain pods?1, number of nodules plant?1, grain yield (kg ha?1) and Cost-benefit ratio (CBR). Results of the two years study revealed that with the exception of number of grains pods?1, and cost benefit ratio, all the vegetative and yield parameters were significantly different during both the studied years. Comparing the effect of irrigation regimes versus rainfed conditions significantly (p < .05) difference was recorded in all parameters while the maximum values were in irrigated plots as compared to rainfed conditions. Significant (p < .05) difference was recorded in weeds density at 60 DAS (64.13 m?2) found in irrigated plots as compared to rainfed conditions. The year wise comparison of the varieties was significant (p < .05) in number of pods plant?1, grain yield (kg ha?1). The varieties were also found with significant difference. After 60 days the minimum weed density (60.68 m?2) was found in Karak-2 and the maximum weed density at 60 DAS (62.42 m?2) was recorded in Sheenghar. Among the varieties the maximum values were found number of productive branches plant?1 (15.89), number of pods plant?1 (45.52), was found in Karak-1.The maximum number of grains pod?1 (l.93) was found in Karak-2. The maximum number of nodules plant?1 (28.54) in Sheenghar and grain yield (1484.1 kg ha?1) and cost benefit ratio (3.32) was recorded in Lawaghar. The year wise comparison of weed management parameters was also significant in different parameters. However among the treatments after 60 DAS the minimum weed density (51.15 m?2) was recorded in black and white plastic and the maximum weed density (99.54 m?2) was recorded in the weedy check. Among the applied treatments for weed management the maximum number of productive branches plant?1 (16.83), number of pods plant?1 (52.46), number of grains pod?1 (2.16) and grain yield (1659.75 kg ha?1) was recorded in HW three times treatments while on the other hand maximum number of nodules plant?1 (29.96) was recorded in both black and white plastic mulches. The maximum cost benefit ratio (3.39) was recorded in Stomp 330 EC. The minimum number of nodules plant?1 (25.35) was found in Dual Gold EC 960 treated plots. The minimum number of productive branches plant?1 (13.32), number of pods plant?1 (31.47), number of grains pod?1 (l.68) and grain yield (1148.4 kg ha?1) was found in weedy check. The minimum cost benefit ratio (2.54) was found in black plastic mulches treated plots. From the above findings it is concluded that chickpea variety Lawaghar grown in the arid zone need subsequent irrigation. HW, black and white plastic mulches were found efficient for weed management but costly. However, the herbicide Stomp 330 EC was found efficient in weed control and gained maximum CBR in the experimental trial at Southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. |
