EFFICACY OF HERBICIDE SPRAY AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO MANUAL WEEDING IN PEARLMILLET (PENNISETUM-GLAUCUM)

A field experiment conducted during the rainy seasons (kharif) 1988 an d 1989 indicated that the preemergence spray of atrazine @ 0.5 or terb utryne @ 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 kg a.i./ha reduced the density and dry weigh t of weeds in pearlmillet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Pr. emend. Stunt z]. These treatments were on a par with hand-weeding. The uncountrolle d weed growth reduced the number of tillers, ears/plants and the test weight. Unit increase in weed density/m(2) reduced the grain yield of pearlmillet by 7.7 kg in 1988 and 8.1 kg/ha in 1989. The dry weight of weeds/m(2) reduced the yield by 4.3 and 5.1 kg/ha. Pre-emergence spra y of atrazine @ 0.5 or terbutryne @ 0.6 kg a.i/ha was the most effecti ve alternative to hand-weeding in labour-scarce situation.