STUDIES INTO INFESTATION OF TRIANTHEMA PORTULACASTRUM (HORSEPERSLANE) ON THE GROWTH AND QUALITY BEHAVIOUR OF MAIZE CROP

An experiment pertaining to studies into Trianthema protulacastrum infestation was conducted focusing for its effect on growth, yield and quality of maize crop. Experimental field was sandy loam with having infestation of Trianthema protulacastrum. Different densities of Trianthema protulacastrum like D0 (weed free), D1 (5plants m^-2), D2 (10 plants m^-2), D3 (15 plants m^-2), D4 (20 plants m^-2) were maintained at standard maize spacing i.e., Row to Row = 60cm and plant to plant distance = 15 cm. Other than specific treatment (Trianthema density), all agronomic requirements were kept normal and uniform. The results clearly indicated that Trianthema weed is so damaging that it even smaller level (5 plants m^-2) posed loss to the growth behaviour i.e., maize plant height, leaf area index (LAI), crop growth rate (CGR), Dry weight (DW). Similarly, trend of loss was noted on yield and yield quality in terms of protein, oil and starch. The results suggest that (i) the maize crop must be kept free of Trianthema to avoid the loss in terms of yield and its quality (ii) studies may be conducted even below to 5 Trianthema plants m^-2 to explore its effects.