Integration of Stale Seedbed with Herbicides for Weed Management in Jute (Corchorus olitorius) and their Impact on Soil Microbes

A field experiment was conducted in split-plot design with five main plot treatments comprised of conventional method of sowing, stale seed bed (SSB) for 20 days followed by (fb) pyrozosulfuron ethyl @ 60g/ha, SSB fb imazethapyr @100ml/ha, SSB fb glyphosate @ 1.25 kg/ha % (NH4)2 SO4 and SSB fb glyphosate @2.5 kg/ha +2% (NH4)2 SO4 superimposed with three sub-plot treatments of jute sown at 0, 5 and 15 days after herbicides application replicated thrice during 2010-11 and 2011-12.Stale seedbed (SSB) followed (fb) either glyphosate @1.25 or 2.5kg/ha or pyrozosulfuron ethyl @60g/ha or imazethapyr @100 ml/ha significantly reduced the Cyperus, broad leaved weeds (BLW) and grass weed. SSB fb glyphosate @1.25 and 2.50 kg/ha did not show jute seedling mortality even crop sown same day after application of herbicides). Imazathapyr @100g/ha and pyrozosulfuron ethyl @60 g/ha recorded seedling mortality up to 75-90% when jute crop was sown at 0, 5 and 15 days after application. SSB with glyphosate @1.25 and 2.50 kg/ha resulted in significantly higher jute seed yield (11 q/ha) compared to others