2023, Vol. 8, Special Issue 4

A field experiment on effect of weed management on production and economics of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] was laid out during the kharif season of 2019-20 in Vertisols at Instructional cum Research farm of IGKV, Raipur, and Chhattisgarh. The oilseed crop known as soybean, also known as the "miracle crop of the 20th century," is very significant. With a protein concentration of about 40%, it offers an economical supply of vegetable oil and protein. Macarena is a bio-stimulant and it increases the metabolism of the plant and supplements plant with glycine and antioxidants of natural origin. This bio-stimulant relieves abiotic stress and in turn increases the soybean yield. Echinochloa colonum, Cyperus rotundus, Parthenium hysterophorus L., Digera arvensis, Celosia argentea, and Alternanthera spp. and some other weeds were dominant in the investigation and were observed throughout the crop growth period. The lowest weed density and weed dry matter generation were achieved with the combination of two hand weedings at 20 and 40 days after planting (T₆), followed by the application of Sodium Acifluarfan (16.5%) + Clodinafoppropargyl (8% EC) at a rate of 1000 MI/ha + Macarena at 625 ml/ha (T₁). The weedy check treatment had the maximum weed density and weed dry matter production (T₇). Weed control efficiency was found highest in two hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS (T₆) and lowest in weedy check (T₇). The least amount of weed density and dry matter production compared to other treatments was produced by the treatment that included two rounds of hand weeding at 20 and 40 days after sowing (T₆), followed by the application of Sodium Acifluarfan (16.5%) + Clodinafoppropargyl (8% EC) at a rate of 1000 MI/ha + Macarena at 625 ml/ha (T₁). The treatment with no weed management (T₇), on the other hand, had the highest weed density and dry matter production. In conclusion, the experiment showed that the most efficient way to decrease total and species-specific weed density, weed dry matter accumulation, and overall weed control efficacy was to undertake two hand weeding sessions at 20 and 40 days following sowing (T₆). Yet when it comes to chemical weed control, the maximum yields and most favourable economic conditions were obtained when Sodium Acifluarfan (16.5%) + Clodinafop Propargyl (8% EC) at a Rate of 1000 ml/ha + Macarena at 625 ml/ha (T₁) were applied.