Quantitative Variables Analysis, Growth and Yield of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) under Different Weed Management Practices

Background: The Groundnut or Goober peas (Arachis hypogaea L.) hold a prominent position as one of India's most crucial food and cash crops. One of the serious bottlenecks that limit the productivity of groundnut is the weed menace. Methods: A field experiment was conducted at Perunthalaivar Kamaraj Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Puducherry during 2021 to 2023 to investigate the effects of integrated weed management practices on groundnut cultivation. The experimental setup followed a randomized block design with nine treatments, each replicated three times. The treatments comprised a range of weed management practices, including the pre-emergence herbicide pendimethalin and post-emergence herbicides like imazethapyr and quizalofop-ethyl. These herbicides were administered either individually or in conjunction with hand weeding once. In addition, hand weedings twice at 20 and 40 DAS were tested with unweeded check. Result: The experiment results of the two years study revealed that the application of Pendimethalin 30% EC + Imazethapyr 2% EC with quizalofop - p-ethyl at 15-20 DAS has gave the maximum plant height (74.7 cm), dry matter production (57.9 g /plant), higher pod yield (3922 kg/ha), haulm yield (5919 kg/ha), highest net return (Rs. 91763 ha(-1)) and B: C ratio (2.75). The strong positive correlations are plant height (0.96 and 0.97), shelling % (0.98 and 0.99), no. of pods plant-1 (0.98 and 0.99), dry matter production (0.98 and 0.99) and weed control efficiency (0.85 and 0.88). These variables had a positive impact on groundnut yield.