Weed management in soybean (Glycine max)-based intercropping system

An experiment was conducted during rainy season of 1994 and 1995 to study w eed management in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]-based intercropping syst em. Oxyfluorfen @ 0.235 kg/ha pre-emergence and 1 hand-weeding at 30 days w ere statistically at par and proved significantly superior to fluchloralin @ 1.0 kg/ha pre-plant incorporation in reducing weed and their dry weight. Weed-control efficiency (WCE) under these treatments was higher. Sole soybe an and intercropping of niger (Guizotia abyssinica Cass.) with sobyean were found statistically at par and superior to remaining 2 intercropping treat ments in reducing dry matter and showed better WCE over others. One hand-we eding at 30 days and oxyfluorfen @ 0.235 kg/ha pre-emergence resulted in si gnificantly higher plant height, branching and seed yield/plant and crop bi omass than other weeding methods, Significantly higher grain and soybean-eq uivalent yields were under sole soybean compared with other intercropping s ystem. Intercropping of soybean with pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp,] and sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) being statistically at par were superior t o niger. Among weed-control methods, 1 hand-weeding at 30 days and oxyfluor fen @ 0.235 kg/ha preemergence being statistically at par were superior to fluchloralin @ 1 kg/ha preplant incorporation. Significantly highest grain yield, gross and net returns and profitability were obtained with soybean a lone. Manual weeding was cheaper than others for gross and net profits, whi le benefit: cost ratio was not affected significantly.