EFFECT OF RATES AND METHODS OF APPLICATION OF PENTHALENE-PLUS ON WILD ONION (Asphodelus tenuifolius Cav.) IN CHICKPEA

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of rates and methods of application of Penthalene-plus (pendimethalin + prometryn) on control of wild onion (Asphodelus tenuifolius Cav.) in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) at farmer’s field in district Bhakkar in 2007-08. The experiment comprised of six treatments, including two rates of Penthalene-plus (i.e. 2.5 L and 3.0 L ha-1) and two methods of application (pre-emergence spray and sand mix broadcast application). Manual weed control (hoeing) and weedy check (control) were also included in the experiment for comparison. The experiment was arranged in randomized complete block design with four replications. Wild onion density and its dry biomass m-2, yield and yield components of chickpea were all significantly affected by the Penthalene-plus doses and application methods. The highest density (210 m-2) and dry biomass (436 g m-2) of wild onion were observed in weedy check; while the hoeing treatment had the lowest density (10 m-2) and dry biomass (7.56 g m-2). Similarly, the highest grain yield (2256 kg ha-1) of chickpea was obtained in manual weed control (hoeing), which was not statistically different from Penthalene-plus (2225 kg ha-1) applied at 2.5 L ha-1. The highest and lowest grain yields were respectively 486 and 455 kg ha-1 more than that in weedy check (1770 kg ha-1). Chickpea yield following Penthalene-plus at 2.5 L ha-1 sand mix broadcast application was 284 kg ha-1 more than the weedy check. Penthalene-plus spray at 2.5 L ha-1 is the best alternative to manual weed control for controlling wild onion and for increasing chickpea grain yield.