A. M. Patel

Weed Control Study in Rainy Green Gram (Vigna Radiata L. Wilczek) A. M. Patel

Green gram, being a photo and thermo-insensitive crop, is successfully raised in rainy as well as summer season. In rainy season, weeds are serious problem due to favorable conditions for their growth. Weed management is an important key factor for enhancing the productivity of green gram, as weeds compete for nutrients, water, light and space with crop plants during early growth period. Moreover, besides low yield of crop, they increase production cost, harbor insect-pest and plant diseases, decreasing quality of farm produce and reduce land value. Of the different factors known for reduction in crop production, weeds stand first. Therefore it is an essential to control weeds by any means during critical period of competition to obtain full yield potential. Cultural as well as mechanical practices such as hand weeding and interculturing are effective but unavailability of labor and continuous rainfall in rainy season does not permit it to operate timely. The current trends and further development of intensive agriculture likely to seek the help of herbicides as an effective tool for weed control and replacing conventional methods of weed management.