<div style="text-align:justify">Background: Among pulse crops, pigeon pea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp] is one of the most important pulse crops of India after chick pea. Among various biotic factors limiting pigeon pea yield, weeds are of prime importance which can causes seed yield losses up to 80 per cent. Therefore, weed management is an important key factor for enhancing the productivity of pigeon pea. Imazethapyr, an herbicide of imidazolinones group has been registered for soybean, groundnut and other legumes. Various trials in different regions were conducted to study the effects of imazethapyr alone or in combination for controlling the weeds in different crops but in pigeon pea limited research were conducted. Therefore, current study aimed to study the effect of imidazolinones alone and in combination on weed dry matter accumulation in pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L.). Methods: Pre and post emergence application of imidazolinones alone and in combination was done and dry matter accumulation by different types of weeds i.e. grassy, broad leaf and sedges in pigeon pea crop were worked out at different interval of crop span.&nbsp; Result: Among all weed controls treatments, two hoeing at 40 and 70 DAS found most effective to control all kind of weeds. Alone application of pendimethalin was not effective to control sedges. PRE application of imidazolinones was comparatively more effective than POE application. Application of imidazolinones in combination with pendimethalin improves its efficacy to control total weeds than alone application of it. Therefore, PRE application of pendimethalin + imazethapyr @ 1000 + 75 g ha-1 proved to be an effective and a profitable alternative to the existing recommendation (two hoeing at 25 and 45 DAS) of weed control in pigeon pea in Haryana locality.</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Effect of Imidazolinones Alone and in Combination on Weed Dry Matter Accumulation in Pigeon Pea (Cajanus cajan L.)</div>

One of the processes to increase the shelf life of the food products is drying and dehydration. Vegetables may be dried by different methods like solar drying, open sun drying and other mechanical methods so that they can be available during the lean season. In this study, mint was subjected to drying after giving two different treatments and their respective physical and chemical parameters were evaluated. An increase in chlorophyll content, flavonoid content and Vitamin A content was observed in all of the dried samples as they become concentrated source of nutrients. However, a decrease in polyphenol content and Vitamin C content in all of the samples was found. Drying rate of solar dryer was higher than hot air dryer and open sun drying. The aroma of dried mint was maintained in solar dried samples but was lost in hot air dryer and open sun drying.

Comparative studies on dehydration of mint (Mentha arvensis) by open sun drying, solar drying and hot air cabinet drying

<div>Background: Soybean being a rainy season crops, is heavily infested with weeds thus ultimately affect the crop yield and economic return. 
 
Methods: Field experiment was conducted at Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi during rainy season of 2019 and 2020 under randomized block design replicated thrice with eight different weed control methods viz., imazathapyr 75 g/ha at 20 days after sowing (DAS), imazathapyr 35% + imazamox 35% ready mix (RM) 75 g/ha at 20 DAS, quizalofop ethyl 50 g/ha at 20 DAS, sodium acifluorfen 16.5% + clodinafop propargyl 8% (RM) 125 g/ha at 20 DAS, imazathapyr 2% + pendimethalin 30% (RM) 1 kg/ha at 20 DAS, hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS, weed free (three hand weeding at 20, 40 and 60 DAS) and weedy check.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Among herbicides, application of quizalofop ethyl 50 g/ha recorded higher growth and yield attributes of soybean due to reduced weed density and weed dry matter which resulted in higher weed control efficiency, weed management index, agronomic management index, thereby recorded maximum soybean yield (2065 kg/ha), net return (₹ 54,743/ha) and B:C ratio (2.50). The soybean yield was negatively correlated with weed dry matter particularly with grassy as well as total weed dry matter while plant dry matter accumulation was strongly correlated with soybean yield.</div>

Weed Dynamics, Growth, Yield and Correlation Study as Affected by Weed Control Methods in Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merril.]

<div>Background: Weeds are the major biotic constraint to reduce the rice productivity in direct wet seeded rice. Weed infestation and competition are severe in direct wet seeded rice as compared to transplanted rice, because of the simultaneous growth of both crops and weeds. The yield loss due to weeds varies from 40 to 100 per cent in direct seeded rice. Use of herbicides either singly or in combination with manual or mechanical weeding in puddled direct seeded rice has been highlighted by several workers. Use of alternative herbicides with wide spectrum control of the weeds in direct seeded puddled rice is the need of the present time. The present study aimed to evaluate different weed management practices in direct wet seeded rice under sodic soil. 
 
Methods: A field experiment was conducted during Samba season (Rabi) 2016-17. to evaluate the weed management practices in direct wet seeded rice under sodic soil. The treatments comprised of different combination of weed management practices viz., pre emergence, early post emergence herbicides, mechanical weeding and hand weeding twice were tested. Total weed density and weed dry weight, weed control efficiency, yield parameters and yield of rice were recorded.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Among the different weed management practices, the lowest total weed density, total weed dry weight and higher WCE, yield attributes, grain and straw yields were registered under application of PE pyrazosulfuron ethyl 25 g/ha fb EPOE bispyribac sodium 25 g/ha. This was followed by application of PE pretilachlor 0.75 kg/ha fb EPOE bispyribac sodium 25 g/ha.&nbsp;</div>

<div>Weed Dynamics and Productivity of Direct Wet Seeded Rice under Different Weed Management Practices</div>

Background: Azolla, a sustainable and nutrient-dense biomass, has significant potential for human nutrition and as a functional ingredient in seafood products. This study aimed to compare biomass yield, nutrient composition and drying efficiency between two species, Azolla pinnata and Azolla caroliniana. 
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Methods: Both Azolla species were cultivated under controlled aquatic conditions. The harvested biomass was processed using three drying methods: sun drying, cabinet tray drying and hot-air oven drying (40-45&deg;C for 4-6 hours). Drying efficiency was evaluated based on nutrient retention, rehydration capacity and product stability. Culture medium parameters such as dissolved ammonia and total hardness were monitored for correlation with biomass yield and protein content. Proximate composition analysis was conducted on dried samples. 
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Result: Cabinet tray drying showed the highest nutrient retention and rehydration capacity among the drying methods tested. Improved biomass yield and protein content corresponded with reduced dissolved ammonia and total hardness in the culture medium. On a dry-weight basis, proximate composition ranged as moisture 4.70-5.50%, ash 16.53-17.85%, protein 22.05-22.99%, fat 4.19-4.72%, carbohydrates 49.54-51.72% and fiber 13.53-18.07%. Azolla pinnata exhibited higher nutrient density compared to A. caroliniana. Overall, cabinet tray-dried A. pinnata was identified as a promising functional ingredient for enhancing the nutritional profile of seafood formulations.

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Effect of Cultivation and Drying Methods on the Drying Efficiency and Nutritive Composition of Azolla Species

<div>Background: Weeds are the major threat to direct seeded rice and a single strategy of weed control may not be effective for season-long weed control. Intending to accomplish the long-term and sustainable weed management of direct seeded rice, the integration approach of weed management strategies seems a better alternative. The current field study was aimed to evaluate the impact of integration of different weed control methods on direct seeded rice under irrigated ecosystem on weed growth and rice yield.</div>

<div> 
Methods: The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications and twelve treatments during 2017 at G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India. The twelve treatments included the combination of cultural, mechanical, physical and chemical weed management methods.</div>

<div> 
Result: Combination of stale seedbed technique integrated with pre-emergence application of pendimethalin with mechanical weeding at 25 DAS followed by 1 hand weeding at 45 DAS, Sesbania (line sowing) fb application of pendimethalin (PE) fb 1 mechanical weeding at 25 DAS fb 1 hand weeding at 45 DAS, stale seedbed with application of pendimethalin (PE) with Sesbania brown manuring supplemented with mechanical weeding (25 DAS) fb hand weeding at 45 DAS, mulching with wheat straw mulch along with post-emergence application of penoxsulam (20 DAS) fb 1 hand weeding at 45 DAS and application of pendimethalin (PE) fb penoxsulum (PoE) at 20 DAS fb 1 hand weeding at 45 DAS with a row spacing of 25 cm found to be similar in the suppression of weed population and weed density at 40 and 60 DAS and crop yields (4.3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.0 and 4.2 t/ha, respectively) were on par with weed free plot i.e. 4.4t/ha. Application of pendimethalin (PE) fb penoxsulum (PoE) at 20 DAS fb 1 hand weeding at 45 DAS with row spacing of 25cm recorded 93.7%, 90.6% and 4.5% weed control efficiency, weed control index and weed index respectively, which was similar with above integrated weed management treatments. A negative correlation of the weed density and dry matter with the yield of rice was recorded.</div>

​Effect of Integrated Weed Management on Weed and Yield of Direct Seeded Rice

<div style="text-align: justify;">An experiment was carried out to find out suitable method of planting and weed management in green gram grown during the kharif season of 2014 and 2015. The density of E. colona and C. rotundus was significantly reduced in raised bed planting method. Significant reduction in total dry weight of weeds was obtained in raised bed planting method as compared to conventional and zero till planting method. Maximum weed control efficiency was found in raised bed planting method. Significantly more number of seeds pod-1 were observed in raised bed planting method as compared to conventional and zero till planting method. Seed yield and straw yield were found maximum in raised bed planting method during both years of study and were statistically at par in conventional and zero till planting method. Harvest index was not influenced by planting methods. Phytotoxicity on crop due to different herbicides was similar under different planting methods. Among different weed management treatments, HW at 15 and 30 DAS was found most effective in reducing density and dry weight of weeds during crop growing period except at 15 DAS (where weeding was done after taking observation). Maximum weed control efficiency was observed in HW (15 &amp; 30 DAS). Weedy check treatment resulted in minimum while weed free treatment resulted in maximum number of seeds pod-1. Among the treatments having herbicide application, post emergence application of Imazethapyr @ 100 g ha-1 resulted in maximum seed and stover yield.&nbsp;</div>

Effect of planting methods and weed management practices on yield of green gram {Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek}, weed dynamics vis a vis phytotoxicity in green gram

<div>Background: Maize (Zea mays L.) is the most versatile and emerging food crop of global importance. Weeds are ubiquitous but their presence in wide spaced and initially slow growing crop like maize acts as an obstacle for plentiful harvest. Nutrient uptake by weeds during the first thirty days of maize growth was 59 kg N, 10 kg P2O5 and 59 kg K2O per ha, which was 7-10 times higher than the nutrient uptake by maize. 
 
Methods: The present field experiment was conducted during Rabi, 2018-19 under irrigated conditions at wetland farm of S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati andhra Pradesh, with ten treatments and three replications in a randomized block design. 
 
Result: Lower density and dry weight of weeds with higher weed control efficiency, lower nutrient uptake by weeds and higher nutrient up take by maize at 80 DAS, kernel and stover yield was recorded with hand weeding twice at 15 and 30 DAS, which was statistically at par with atrazine 1.0 kg ha-1 as PE fb topramezone 30 g ha-1 or tembotrione 120 g ha-1 as PoE or atrazine 1.0 kg ha-1 as PE fb HW at 30 DAS, while these were lowest with weedy check. Higher benefit cost ratio of maize was noticed with both atrazine 1.0 kg ha-1 as PE fb topramezone 30 g ha-1 as PoE (T3), which was in parity with atrazine 1.0 kg ha-1 as PE fb tembotrione 120 g ha-1 as PoE (T2) and hand weeding twice at 15 and 30 DAS (T9). From the present study it may be concluded that atrazine 1.0 kg ha-1 as PE fb topramezone 30 g ha-1 or tembotrione 120 g ha-1 as PoE were considered to be the most effective and economic weed management practices to increase the productivity of Rabi maize at times of labour scarcity.</div>

<div>Weed Dynamics and Nutrient Uptake of Maize as Influenced by Different Weed Management Practices</div>

A field experiment was conducted during rainy seasons of 2011 and 2012 at Udaipur to evaluate the effect of weed control and sulphur on yield and quality of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill]. The twenty eight treatment combinations comprising 7 weed management treatments (weedy check, pendimethalin 1.0 kg ha-1 pre- emergence, quizalofop-ethyl 50 g ha-1 and imazethapyr 100 g ha-1 post-emergence at 15 DAS, pendimethalin, quizalofop-ethyl and imazethapyr followed by hoeing and weeding at 30 DAS) in main plot and 4 rates of sulphur application (00, 20, 40 and 60 kg ha1) in sub plot were laid out in split plot design with three replications. All weed control treatments reduced weed dry matter at harvest during both the years. Pendimethalin followed by hoeing and weeding at 30 DAS was significantly superior in reducing weed dry matter of broad-leaved, narrow-leaved and total weeds at harvest over rest of the treatments. All weed control treatments significantly enhanced straw and biological yield of soybean over weedy check. Pendimethalin followed by hoeing and weeding at 30 DAS produced significantly higher pooled seed (2168 kg ha-1), straw (3167 kg ha-1) and biological (5335 kg ha-1) yields compared to other treatments. Sulphur rates had no significant effect on weed dry matter at harvest. Across the years, increasing level of S application up to 40 kg ha-1 resulted in significantly increased straw yield, biological yield and harvest index of&nbsp; &nbsp;soybean. Increasing rate of sulphur application up to 40 kg ha-1 tended to significantly increase protein and oil yield.

Effect of weed management and sulphur on weed dynamics, soybean&nbsp;(Glycine max) yield and associated quality traits

<div>Background:&nbsp;Weeds are the major biological constraint in okra due to its slow initial growth and wider row spacing. Due to severe crop weed competition, weeds removed considerable amount of nutrients from the soil. Competition exists between the crop and weed for nutrients results in nutrient deficiencies in crop. Hence the present experiment is formulated to assess the effect of stale seedbed, mulching and mechanical weeding on nutrient availability, nutrient uptake by crop and weed in okra. 
 
Methods: Experiment was conducted at Coconut Research Station, Balaramapuram, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala during Rabi 2020-21. Design adopted for the study was RBD with two factors. The first factor was seedbed preparation (S) and the second factor was weed management (W). Stale seedbed (S1) and normal seedbed (S2) were the two different seedbed preparation methods and dried banana leaf mulch @10 t ha-1 alone (W1), dried banana leaf mulch @10 t ha-1 fb wheel hoe weeding at 30 and 45 DAS (W2), dried banana leaf mulch @10 t ha-1 fb hand weeding at 30 and 45 DAS (W3), wheel hoe weeding at 15, 30 and 45 DAS (W4), hand weeding at 15, 30 and 45 DAS (W5) and weedy check (W6) were the six different weed management options tried. Soil samples were collected after the harvest of the crop to determine the nutrient availability. Weed samples at 30 and 60 DAS and plant samples at harvest were analyzed to determine the NPK content and respective uptake of nutrients were calculated by multiplying the nutrient content with DMP. 
 
Result: Stale seedbed significantly enhanced the dry matter production and nutrient uptake by okra at harvest and lowered the nutrient removal by weeds at 30 and 60 DAS. Compared to non-stale, stale seedbed recorded significantly higher fruit yield. Among the weed management, wheel hoe weeding at 15, 30 and 45 DAS, recorded the lowest total weed dry weight at 30 and 60 DAS and resulted in the highest NPK uptake by crop and fruit yield. Uncontrolled weed growth resulted in a loss of 81.33, 18.16 and 50.84 kg N:P:K ha-1&nbsp;at 30 DAS and 102.09, 57.90 and 55.31 kg N:P:K ha-1 at 60 DAS, respectively. Nutrient removal by weeds was the lowest in wheel hoe weeding at 15, 30 and 45 DAS and the highest in weedy check. It could be concluded that, wheel hoe weeding at 15, 30 and 45 DAS was the best option for the management of weeds, higher nutrient availability and uptake and yield in okra.</div>

Effect of Imidazolinones Alone and in Combination on Weed Dry Matter Accumulation in Pigeon Pea (Cajanus cajan L.)

Comparative studies on dehydration of mint (Mentha arvensis) by open sun drying, solar drying and hot air cabinet drying

Weed Dynamics, Growth, Yield and Correlation Study as Affected by Weed Control Methods in Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merril.]

Weed Dynamics and Productivity of Direct Wet Seeded Rice under Different Weed Management Practices

Effect of Cultivation and Drying Methods on the Drying Efficiency and Nutritive Composition of Azolla Species

Effect of Integrated Weed Management on Weed and Yield of Direct Seeded Rice

Effect of planting methods and weed management practices on yield of green gram {Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek}, weed dynamics vis a vis phytotoxicity in green gram

Weed Dynamics and Nutrient Uptake of Maize as Influenced by Different Weed Management Practices

Effect of weed management and sulphur on weed dynamics, soybean (Glycine max) yield and associated quality traits

Nutrient Availability and Nutrient Uptake by Crop and Weed as Influenced by Stale Seedbed, Mulching and Mechanical Weeding in Okra