Redgram

Weed Management

• The growth of pigeonpea is quite slow during first 45-60 days after sowing. On the other hand,
• weed growth is very fast due to frequent rains. During this period, if weeds are not controlled, they cover the pigeonpea plants.
• Weeding by mechanical means sometimes becomes very difficult because of frequent rains due to which soil does not come in physical condition to permit use of the implements. Under such conditions, use of herbicides to control the weeds becomes more important.
• Two weedings, one at 25 days of another at 45 days after sowing, were found to be sufficient.
• Among herbicides, Lasso @ 1.0 a.i./ha was found to be quite effective
• Intercropping with short duration legumes like urdbean, mungbean and cowpea is the another biological way of controlling weeds in pigeonpea. However, this practice can only reduce the infestation of weeds to some extent by occupying the space in between the rows of pigeonpea.
• The weeds cause losses to a great extent under intercropping system also.

Common weeds associated with pigeonpea.

• Cyperous rotundus
• Echinocloa sp.
• Dactylactinium aegyptium
• Setaria gluca
• Amaranthus sp.
• Celosia argentea
• Commelina benghalensis
• Phyllanthus niruri
• Digera arvensis
• Euphorbia sp.

For short duration crop first 30 days is critical

cultural methods

• Hand weeding 25 - 45 days after sowing is better control measure.
• Intercropping with sorghum and maize surpress weeds in long duration crops.
• With short season crops growing short statured crops such as cowpea, greengram, black gram, groundnut and soybean serve as smoother crops to weed. This not only help in saving one hand weeding and gives some additional income to the farmer.
• Short season crops can also take the advantage of high plant density even when grown alone.

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