Vol. 7, Issue 9, Part C (2025)

Wheat occupies about 17% of the world’s cropped land and contributes 35% of the staple foods so its increased production is essential for food security. Weeds are one of the major constraints in wheat production as they reduce productivity due to competition, allelopathy, by providing habitats for pathogens as well as serving as alternate host for various insects and fungi and increase harvest cost. Weeds of experimental field were identified and classified into broad leaf weeds, grasses & sedges at 30, 60, 90 and 120 days after sowing. Weed count was taken in each plot at different stages of the crop using 0.5m × 0.5m quadrate and was expressed as number m-2. The major grassy weed taken into account were Cynodon dactylon and broad leaf weeds were Anagallis arvensis, Chenopodium album and Parthenium hysterophorus and sedges weed was Cyperus rotundus. Rest of the weeds were taken as other weeds. All the weed falling, within the quadrate were cut close to the ground surface, separated species-wise and dried in hot air oven at a temperature of 850C till constant weight was achieved. Total weed dry matter was computed and expressed as g m-2. The experimental field was infested with all three type of natural weeds (grassy, non - grassy and sedges) but non - grassy was dominated over grassy and sedges. The weed free condition produced highest grain yield (2677 kg ha-1) which was at par with Sulfosulfuron + metsulfuron @ 32 g ha-1 and on par with rest applied herbicide. The higher grain yield ha-1 in weed free and Sulfosulfuron + metsulfuron @ 32 g ha-1 treated plot were mainly due to higher yield attributing character and harvest index has proved most effective herbicide for natural weed control of wheat crop.