Chickpea, Seed yield, Fluchloralin, Pendimethalin, Oxyfluorfen

Field trials were conducted for 5 consecutive winter seasons during 2002-03 to 2006-07 to study the effect of weed management practices on seed yield of irrigated chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Results revealed two hand weedings at 20 and 40 DAS recorded lowest dry weight of both monocot and dicot weeds and higher weed control efficiency (61.5%). Among the herbicides, pre-planting and incorporation of fluchloralin at 0.75 kg/ha + 1 hand weeding at 30 DAS was most effective in reducing the dry weight of both monocot and dicot weeds at harvesting, ascertained highest seed yield (1530 kg/ha) over other treatments with net returns of Rs 16904/ha and maximum weed control efficiency (54.5 %). Seed yield recorded with this treatment was at par to pre-emergence pendimethalin at 0.75 kg/ha + 1 hand weeding 30 DAS treatment