WEED-CONTROL IN GROUNDNUT (ARACHIS-HYPOGAEA) UNDER HIGH-RAINFALL CONDITION OF MEGHALAYA

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy seasons of 1988 and 1989 to rind out suitable and economic weed-control methods in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) under high-rainfall condition of Meghalaya. The highest weed-control efficiency (97.30%) was observed under post-emergence application of 2, 4-D @ 0.75 kg/ha and was on a par with weed-free treatment. However, maximum pod yield (16.68 q/ha) was obtained under weed-free treatment, followed by 1435 q/ha by hand-weeding twice and 14.26 q/ha in pre-emergence application of alachlor @ 1.50 kg/ha. Mechanical weeding twice, pre-emergence application of oxadiazon @ 0.50 kg/ha did not improve the pod yield and yield attributes of groundnut. The highest net economic return (Rs 6,266/ha) was obtained due to weed-control treatments with pre-emergence application of alachlor @ 1.50 kg/ha.