Integrated weed management and its effect on the seed cotton yield in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) crop

Integrated weed control comprising the use of herbicide and cultural operation was carried out against major weed communities belonging to broad leaf, narrow leaf and sedges infested in cotton crop during the year 2004-05 at the Plant Protection Institute, Faisalabad. The treatments viz., Stomp 455 G/L CS @ 1.875 L ha(-1) at pre-emergence of crop, Grip-up 48% SL. @ 3.00 L ha(-1) as post-em at 45 days, Two Hoeing (25 and 45 days after crop emergence), Stomp 455 G/L CS @ 1.875 L ha(-1) at pre-em + Grip-up 48% SL @ 3.00 L ha(-1) as post-em at 45 days, Stomp 455 G/L CS @ 1. 875 L ha(-1) at pre-em + Hoeing at 45 days after crop emergence and Hoeing at 25 days of crop emergence + Grip-up 48% SL @ 3.00 L ha(-1) as post-em at 45 days were compared with the untreated check (UTC). The best weed control of 96.8% was recorded in the integration of the pre and post-em herbicide treatment of Stomp 455 GIL CS and Grip-up 48% followed by Grip-up 48% with 90.25% weed control as compared with the UTC. The lowest weed control of 74.14% was recorded from Two Hoeings. As a consequence of the weed control, the highest seed cotton yield of 2671 kg ha(-1) was obtained from integrated treatment of pre and post-em application of Stomp 455 G/L CS and Grip-up 48% SL followed by the integrated treatment of Hoeing and Grip-up 48% SL with 2629 kg ha(-1) yield. All other treatments although comparatively gave lower performance towards weed control and seed cotton yield, but were significantly better than UTC which produced the lowest yield of 1932 kg ha-1 because of weed suppression. Results showed that all the weed control measures were effective and enhanced the seed cotton yield from 22.98 to 38.25% over UTC. The study concluded that integrated weed management in cotton crop can significantly reduced the weed infestation and improve the seed cotton yield.