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Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Vol. 13 No. sp9 (2026): Recent Advances in Agriculture

Weed and nitrogen management in rainfed baby corn (Zea mays L.) and its impact on yield and economics of succeeding black gram (Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper)

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.14965
Submitted
12 April 2026
Published
22-10-2026

Abstract

The carryover effects of weed and nitrogen management in baby corn can significantly influence the growth, nodulation and yield of a succeeding black gram crop through residual soil fertility and weed-free seedbeds. Field experiments were conducted at Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India to assess the effect of weed and nitrogen management in baby corn on performance of succeeding black gram. Four weed management practices allocated to the main plots and 5 nitrogen management practices to supply 100 % soil-test based nitrogen (STBN) allocated to the subplots were evaluated in split plot design with 3 replications. Weed management practices comprised application of pre-emergence herbicide alone, combination (tank-mix) of two post-emergence herbicides, integrated weed management and cultural method alone. Nitrogen management treatments were based on varying proportions of chemical fertiliser (urea), farm yard manure (FYM) and vermicompost (VC). Integrated weed management comprising atrazine + manual weeding in baby corn reduced weed density by 41, 43 and 55 % and biomass by 34, 31 and 47 % respectively, compared to atrazine 1.0 ka ha-1 alone (pre-emergence), tembotrione + 2,4-D (post-emergence) and cultural method (hoeing and weeding) alone and improved growth, yield and economics of succeeding black gram. Integrated nitrogen management practices recorded higher values of these traits than chemical nitrogen alone. Integrated weed management through combination of atrazine at 1.0 kg ha-1 + manual weeding at 21 days after sowing (DAS) and supply of 100 % soil test-based nitrogen through 75 % STBN (urea) + 25 % STBN (VC) reduced weed growth to the minimum and gave the maximum grain yield of 798 kg ha-1, net return of ₹34529 ha-1 and return per rupee invested of 2.58. Combinations of integrated weed management with 50 % STBN (urea) + 25 % STBN (FYM) + 25 % STBN (VC) and 75 % STBN (urea) + 12.5 % STBN (FYM) + 12.5 % STBN (VC) were at par for these indices. Grain yield was positively associated with pods per plant (0.477*) and haulm yield (0.888**) and negatively associated with weed density (-0.539*) and weed biomass (-0.595**). These findings underscore the importance of integrated weed and nitrogen management for better performance of succeeding crop in baby corn-black gram sequence cropping system.

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