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Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

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

Effect of topramezone herbicide on weed suppression, crop safety and productivity in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.16775
Submitted
14 July 2026
Published
11-11-2026

Abstract

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) productivity is often constrained by severe weed infestation, particularly during early growth stages, necessitating efficient and safe weed management strategies. The use of post-emergence herbicides is limited due to potential crop phytotoxicity, highlighting the need for alternative options. A field trial was undertaken at Sriniketan, West Bengal, during the rabi seasons of 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 to study the performance of topramezone at different application rates as a post-emergence herbicide in chickpea cultivation. The experiment followed a randomised block design consisting of 9 treatments replicated 3 times, comparing topramezone (15–25 g ha-1) with standard herbicides, pendimethalin and imazethapyr. Results revealed that application of topramezone at 25 g ha-1 at 25 days after sowing significantly reduced weed density and dry weight, resulting in improved crop growth and productivity. This treatment showed performance comparable to pendimethalin (750 g ha-1) and superior to imazethapyr (60 g ha-1). European Weed Research Council (EWRC) phytotoxicity scores for all topramezone treatments remained at one across all observation intervals, indicating no crop injury, whereas imazethapyr caused transient phytotoxicity (score up to 4 at 7 days after herbicide application) that declined by 30 days after application. Higher plant height, leaf area index, dry matter accumulation and seed yield (1402.58 kg ha-1) were recorded under this treatment. The study demonstrates that topramezone at 25 g ha-1 can serve as an effective and safe post-emergence herbicide in chickpea cultivation.

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