Efficacy and Economics of Integrated Weed Management in Vegetable Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp]

A field experiment was carried out to formulate an economic weed management stratergy in vegetable cowpea during Kharif 2012-13 and 2013-14 at the All India Co-ordinated Vegetable Improvement Project in the Regional Horticultural Research and Extension Center, Dharwad. The results based on two years pooled data revealed that, weed control treatments mulching with black polythene and pendimethaline @1 kg/ha + one hand weeding 30 DAS, provided effective control of weeds and significantly increased pod yield of vegetable cowpea over weedy check. The highest net returns (Rs.36211ha^-i) and B:C ratio (1.75) was registered with pendimethaline at 1 kg/ha+ One hand weeding 30 DAS. Profit, with mulching with black polythene were less due to higher cost of black polythene.