Weed Management in Groundnut through Farmers Participatory Approach

To popularize herbicides usage in groundnut cultivation 15 on-farm demonstrations were conducted in farmers fields with an area of 12.0 hectares under supervision of DAATT Centre (Extension unit of Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Andhra Pradesh), Anantapuram during Rabi season over a period of 3 years from 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14. The treatments consisted of T₁: Herbicide application (Pendimethalin @ 3.75 lit/ha as pre-emergence + quizalopop ethyl @ 1.0 lit/ha as post-emergence at 20 days after sowing + one hand weeding at 40 days after sowing) T₂: farmers practice (Manual weeding with Danthulu twice at 20 and 40 days after sowing) with an objective to obtain higher productivity, to reduce the cost of cultivation of groundnut and subsequently improve the returns from unit area in farmers' fields. Demonstrations revealed that application of pendimethalin @ 3.75 lit/ha immediately after sowing + quizalopop ethyl @ 1.0 lit/ha at 20 days after sowing + manual weeding at 40 days after sowing has recorded higher pod yield (2252 kg ha^-1) which was 15.2 per cent higher over farmers practice (1955 kg ha^-1). A saving of Rs. 4000/- (Rupees four thousand only) on cost of cultivation per hectare was realized with herbicide application besides increasing groundnut yield. Higher gross returns (Rs. 1,05,844/-) and net returns (Rs. 83,094/-) per hectare were with herbicide application compared to farmers practice (Rs. 91,885/- gross returns and Rs. 65,135/- net returns). Due to herbicide application cost of cultivation was reduced by 15.3 per cent whereas, gross returns and net returns were improved by 20.1 and 43.1 per cent, respectively over farmers practice.