INFLUENCE OF DIFFERENT WEED MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON YIELD OF GARLIC CROP

Field trials were conducted to compare different weed management practices in garlic (Allium sativum L.) at Government Seed Farm, Ratta Kulachi, Dera Ismail Khan (Pakistan) during winter 2007-08 and repeated during winter 2008-09. Randomized complete block design, with five replications was used in the experiment. The treatments were; 1) weeds free (manual weeding throughout season), 2) twice manual weeding (30 and 60 days after germination), 3) Pendimethaline (2.5 L ha-1), 4) Dual Gold (2.5 L ha-1), 5) Buctril Super (1.25 L ha-1), and 6) control. The major weeds were Avena fatua, Chenopodium album, Chenopodium murale, Convolvulus arvensis, Coronopus didymus, Euphorbia helioscopia, Medicago denticulata, Phalaris minor, Rumex dextatus, and Melilotus indica. Weed management practices significantly affected weeds incidence in garlic crop as compared to weedy check (control). Garlic yield in all weed controlled treatments was significantly improved than control. For controlling weeds, Pendimethaline was found to be the best herbicide as compared to control and other herbicides. The maximum bulb yield was found in weed free treatment, followed by Pendimethaline, whereas, minimum bulb yield was recorded in control. Therefore, manual weeding throughout season or the use of Pendimethaline @ 2.5 L ha-1 is recommended for getting higher garlic yield.