Effect of Weed Management Practices in Chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflora T.) under Chhattisgarh Plains Agro-climatic Condition

The present experiment was conducted at the Department of Horticulture, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur (Chhattisgarh) during winter season to evaluate the effect of weed management practices on the growth and flowering of chrysanthemum. The experiment consisted of eleven treatments comprising of hand weeding, mulching, herbicides and unweeded check replicated three times in randomized block design. Maximum plant height, plant spread and number of branches plant−1 were recorded on application of pendimethalin (extra) @ 0.64 kg ha−1+one hand weeding at 40 DAT+pendimethalin (extra) @ 0.64 kg ha−1at 45 DAT followed by pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg ha−1+one hand weeding at 40 DAT which had at par effect. Highest average flower weight, number of flowers plant−1, flower diameter and earliest days to first bud appearance was obtained with pendimethalin (extra) @ 0.64 kg ha−1+one hand weeding at 40 DAT+pendimethalin(extra) @ 0.64 kg ha−1at 45 DAT which was having same effect as with pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg ha−1+one hand weeding at 40 DAT. The minimum dry matter and nitrogen uptake was noted under pendimethalin (extra) @ 0.64 kg ha−1+one hand weeding at 40 DAT+pendimethalin (extra) @ 0.64 kg ha−1 at 45 DAT. Application of pendimethalin (extra) @ 0.64 kg ha−1+one hand weeding at 40 DAT+pendimethalin (extra) @ 0.64 kg ha−1 at 45 DAT was found superior for parameters under observations, but it was found to have at par effect with pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg ha−1+one hand weeding at 40 DAT.