Enhancing Summer Black Gram Productivity through Combined Herbicide Application: A Growth, Yield and Economic Analysis
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted during the summer season of 2019 at the Hill Millet Research Station, Rajendrapur Farm, N. A. U., Waghai to study the efficacy of combined herbicides in summer black gram (Vigna mungo L.). The soil was characterized as clayey, low in available nitrogen, medium in available phosphorus, and fairly rich in available potassium. The study comprised ten weed management treatments: T₁: Pendimethalin 900 g ha⁻¹ as pre-emergence + one hand weeding (HW) at 30 days after sowing (DAS); T₂: Sodium acifluorfen + clodinafop-propargyl (ready-mix) 250 g ha⁻¹ as post-emergence at 20 DAS; T₃: Imazethapyr + pendimethalin (RM) 750 g ha⁻¹ as pre-emergence; T₄: Imazethapyr + imazamox (RM) 70 g ha⁻¹ as pre-emergence; T₅: Imazethapyr + propaquizafop (RM) 125 g ha⁻¹ as post-emergence at 20 DAS; T₆: Quizalofop-p-ethyl 100 g ha⁻¹ post-emergence at 20 DAS; T₇: Fenoxaprop-p-ethyl 100 g ha⁻¹ post-emergence at 20 DAS; T₈: Two hand weedings at 20 and 40 DAS; T₉: Unweeded control; T₁₀: Weed-free treatment. These treatments were evaluated on black gram cv. GU-1, arranged in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications.
The results indicated that plant population was unaffected by the treatments; however, growth parameters were significantly influenced. T₁₀ (weed-free treatment) recorded the tallest plants and highest number of branches, followed by T₁ and T₂. Yield attributes such as number of pods per plant and pod length showed significant variation, whereas seeds per pod, test weight, and harvest index were not significantly affected. The highest seed yield (1083.33 kg ha⁻¹) and haulm yield (2456.79 kg ha⁻¹) were recorded under T₁₀, closely followed by T₁, T₂ and T₈. Economic analysis revealed that although the highest gross returns were obtained under weed-free conditions, the maximum net returns (₹54,812 ha⁻¹) and benefit-cost ratio (1:2.86) were achieved with T₂ treatment. Thus, sodium acifluorfen + clodinafop-propargyl applied at 20 DAS proved to be the most economically viable and efficient weed management practice for summer black gram under South Gujarat conditions.
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Introduction
Pulses are an integral part of the Indian agricultural economy, ranking after cereals and oilseeds in terms of acreage, production, and economic value. They are a rich source of protein and energy; however, in India, these crops are largely cultivated under resource-poor conditions, resulting in low productivity. This is mainly due to the unavailability of quality seed at the proper time, cultivation on marginal and sub-marginal lands, imbalanced fertilizer use, and non-adoption of improved crop management practices (Choudhary, 2009; Pooniya et al., 2015).
Among the pulse crops, black gram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper], commonly known as urd bean or mash, is an important short-duration legume crop cultivated extensively in India. The crop is highly valued for its high protein and phosphoric acid content and forms an integral component of diversified cropping systems due to its adaptability to varied agro-climatic conditions. India is the largest producer of black gram, contributing more than 70 percent of global production, followed by Myanmar and Pakistan. During 2023–24, black gram occupied nearly 4 million ha with a production of approximately 2 million tonnes and an average productivity of 598 kg ha⁻¹ (Anonymous, 2023–24a). Among the major black gram-growing states, Madhya Pradesh ranks first in area and production, followed by Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra (Anonymous, 2025). In Gujarat, summer black gram was cultivated over an area of 21,354 ha, with a production of 30,368 metric tonnes and an average productivity of 1422.10 kg ha⁻¹ during 2023–24 (Anonymous, 2023–24b).
Conclusion
Based on one year of field experimentation, it can be concluded that post-emergence application of sodium acifluorfen + clodinafop-propargyl (ready-mix) at 250 g ha⁻¹ at 20 DAS was the most effective weed management practice for summer black gram under South Gujarat conditions. The treatment provided effective control of grassy and broad-leaved weeds, resulting in higher yield attributes, seed yield, and economic returns compared to other herbicidal treatments.
Under conditions of adequate labour availability, maintaining a weed-free crop through regular manual weeding (T₁₀) was found equally effective in achieving higher productivity; however, the high cost of manual weeding reduced its economic viability. Therefore, application of sodium acifluorfen + clodinafop-propargyl (ready-mix) at 250 g ha⁻¹ at 20 DAS may be recommended as an efficient and economically viable weed management strategy for summer black gram in South Gujarat.
References
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