Weed dynamics, crop growth and yield attributes of irrigated chickpea in response to chemical weed control

Weeds in chickpea fields cause severe yield losses. Field experiments were undertaken in winter 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 to assess the efficacy of pre-emergence (PRE) and post-emergence (POST) herbicides in irrigated chickpea. PRE herbicides, viz. pendimethalin (as emulsifiable concentrate and capsulated suspension), s-metolachlor, and pendimethalin + S-metolachlor were used in two varieties of chickpea, viz. Bhakkar-2011 (Desi) and Noor-2013 (Kabuli). POST herbicides, viz. Lactofen, haloxyfop, quizalofop, and clodinafop-propargyl were applied at 30 days after sowing. Weed free and weedy check plots were maintained. Efficacy of PRE herbicides was better than POST herbicides, especially in the plots of Desi chickpea. All PRE herbicides were similar in suppressing weed dry biomass. Haloxyfop, quizalofop, and clodinafop-propargyl showed poor control of grass weeds. Irrespective of chickpea genotype, the maximum seed yield (1.16 and 1.30 Mg ha(-1) in 2017-2018 and 2018-2019, respectively) was recorded for the weed free plots, with yield advantage of 137% over control. No herbicide provided season-long weed control. The huge gap between yields of weed free and herbicide-treated plots showed the need of integration of other weed management strategies in this crop.