Response of Weed Management Practices on Growth, Yields and Economics of Rabi Onion (Allium cepa L.)

The present investigation entitled, “Studies on weed management in Rabi onion (Allium cepa L.)” was carried out at the Vegetable Research Farm of Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture & Technology, Kanpur (U.P.) during Rabi season 2021with the objectives of relative efficacy of herbicides and hand weeding on weed control in onion. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design for nine treatments with three replications. It was observed that the growth attributes viz., plant height (80.25 cm), leaves/plant (10.82), fresh weight of bulb (32.65 gm) and dry weight of onion (17.51 gm) were significantly higher in (T2) over rest treatments, respectively. The yields attributes viz., the polar diameter of bulb (56.70 mm), Equatorial diameter of bulb (68.58 mm) and total bulb diameter (5.97 cm) were significantly more recorded in T2, while the minimum was recorded in control. The bulbs yield (27.03 t / ha). TSS (15.43) was significantly highest in weed free check over remaining all treatments, respectively. Among the herbicidal treatment pre and post emergence application of treatment T8. The number of weeds (m2) and weed dry matter (g/ m2) were significantly noticed that weed free check (T2) was most effective treatment as it recorded less weed count 0.68/m2 and dry matter 1.25g followed by 3.63/m2 and 3.45g, respectively. The maximum weed control efficiency (93.3%) and minimum weed control index (0.00%) was significantly recorded by treatment T2, compared to remaining treatments, respectively. The gross monetary returns (Rs.3,24,360.00) were recorded higher in the treatment weed free check (T2) followed by among the herbicides T8 Rs 3,15,240/ ha and net monetary returns were recorded statistically higher in the treatment T8 Rs. 2,21,648.00. Whereas, the highest benefit cost ratio (1:3.71) was recorded in the treatment T7 followed by T6, in the present investigation.