EFFECT OF MOISTURE CONSERVATION AND WEED-CONTROL ON PEARLMILLET (PENNISETUM-GLAUCUM) UNDER RAIN-FED CONDITIONS

A field experiment conducted during the rainy season of 1988 and 1989 showed that moisture conservation practice suppressed the weed growth and improved the productivity and water-use efficiency of pearlmillet [Pennisetum glaucum (L) R. Br. emend. Stuntz.] only in scanty rainfall year of 1989. The maximum reduction in weed density and dry weight wa s attained with flat bed + straw mulch, but crop productivity and wate r-use efficiency were the highest with ridge and furrow + straw mulch. In 1988, net return/ha and net return/rupee were highest with flat be d. In 1989, although highest net return/ha was recorded with ridge and furrow, none of the moisture-conservation treatments proved economica l in respect of net return/rupee invested. Weeding caused remarkable r eduction in weeds in both years. especially with hand-weeding. However , crop productivity and water-use efficiency were influenced favourabl y by weed-control measures only in 1988. The highest values of yield a nd water-use efficiency were associated with atrazine @ 0.50 kg/ha fol lowed by band-weeding. The highest net return/ha and net return/rupee were recorded with atrazine @ 0.50 kg/ha in both years except that non e of the weed-control treatments proved economical in respect of net r eturn/rupee invested in 1989.