Corn gluten meal, Maize, Mulch, Organic weed management 

Field experiment was conducted during winter of 2021-22 at Wetland farm of S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India in a randomized block design with ten organic weed management practices and with three replications. Among all the organic weed management practices, lower weed density and dry weight with higher weed control efficiency was recorded with corn gluten meal 3.5 t/ha as pre-emergence (PE) fb hand weeding (HW) at 30 days after sowing (DAS), however, it was statistically comparable with HW twice at 15 and 30 DAS. Significantly higher growth parameters, yield attributes and kernel yield of maiz were recorded with corn gluten meal 3.5 t/ha as PE fb HW at 30 DAS over rest of the treatments. Mango leaves mulch 5 t/ha recorded significantly higher net returns; however, it was at par with HW twice at 15 and 30 DAS and groundnut shells mulch 12.5 t/ha. Higher benefit-cost ratio was realized with mango leaves mulch 5 t/ha, which was significantly superior over rest of the treatments. Significantly lower net returns and benefit-cost ratio was registered with corn gluten meal 3.5 t/ha as PE fb HW at 30 DAS, when compared to rest of the treatments. It was concluded that mango leaves mulch 5 t/ha is the most effective, sustainable and economical organic weed management practice in maize.