Evaluation of Mulching Methods and Legume Intercropping on Weed Control Efficiency and Agronomic Traits of Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum)

Aim: To evaluate the weed control efficiencies of different mulching practices and legume intercropping in transplanted pearl millet.

Study Design: Randomized Complete Block Design (RBD).

Place and Duration of Study: The field trial was conducted during the Rabi season of 2022 at the school of agricultural sciences in Karunya Institute of technology and sciences, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.

Methodology: The field trial consists of 8 treatments viz., T1 - PE of Atrazine 0.5kg/ ha +1 Hand Weeding at 30 DAT, T2 - Two Hand Weeding at 15 and 30 DAT, T3 - Paddy straw mulching at 5t/ ha 3 DAT, T4 - Black polythene mulching at 3 DAT, T5 - Black silver polythene mulching at 3 DAT, T6 - Intercropping of pulses (cowpea) (1:1), T7 - Intercropping of pulses (cowpea) (1:1) + PE Pendimethalin 0.75 kg/ ha, T8 - Un weeded check.

Results: Results of the experiment proves that the intercropping of cowpea in pearl millet along with the pre-emergence application of pendimethalin proves to be beneficial and advantageous in terms of returns per rupee invested for profitable crop production, rather than going for polythene mulches. Hence adoption of legume intercropping in pearl millet, along with the usage of mild herbicides like pendimethalin, will be an economically viable and environmentally sustainable weed management practice for improving the yield of pearl millet.