Integrated weed management in winter onion (Allium cepa) under mid-hill conditions of north-western Himalayas

A field experiment was conducted during winter (rabi) season of 1996-97 and 1997-98 to study the effect of herbicides (fluchloralin, oxyfluorfen, pend imethalin and alachlor) alone and In combination with hand-weeding (45 days after transplanting) on woods and onion (Allium cepa L.). Season-long crop -weed competition reduced the bulb yield by 81.2% compared to weed-free con dition. All the weed-control treatments significantly reduced the populatio n and dry weight of woods and In turn Increased the bulb yield significantl y except oxyfluorfen 0.15 kg/ha compared to weedy check. Alachlor 2.0 kg/ha + hand-weeding 45 days after transplanting being at par with pendimethalin 1.5 kg/ha + hand-weeding at 45 days and weed-free proved to be the superio r Integrated weed-control approach to control weeds and Increased the plant height, bulb diameter, bulb weight, weed-control efficiency. These treatme nts also registered higher additional net returns. But highest additional r eturns/rupee Invested were, obtained with alachlor 2.0 kg/ha.