International Journal of Sustainable Agriculture 3 (3): 82-87, 2011 ISSN 2079-2107 © IDOSI Publications, 2011 Corresponding Author: Sheikh Muhammad Masum, Department of Agronomy, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh. 82 Influence of Plant Spacing and Post Emergence Herbicide on the Yield of White Jute (Corchorus capsularis) S.M. Masum, M.H. Ali, M.S. Islam and S. Sultana Department of Agronomy, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh Abstract: A field experiment was conducted at Sher-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka during April to August, 2009 with a view to find out the influence of plant spacing and weed control methods on the yield of Corchorus capsularis (cv.CVL-1). The experiment consisted of four plant spacing viz. 20 cm × 10 cm, 25 cm × 10 cm, 30 cm × 10 cm (20, 25 and 30 cm rows with plants spaced at 10 cm intervals in the row) and broadcasting and four weed control methods viz. two times hand weeding with one raking, herbicide Whip Super 9 EC ® (Fenoxaprop-P-ethyl: C H ClNO ) application at 15 DAS, two hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS and three times 18 16 5 hand weeding at 15, 30 and 45 DAS. The dominant grass weeds were Cynodon dactylon (43%), Echinochloa colonam (29%) and Eleusine indica (22%). Results showed that plant spacing differed significantly and 25 cm × 10 cm spacing gave highest (3.12 t haG) fibre yield which was statistically similar with 20 cm × 10 cm. Two 1 times weeding and one raking gave highest (3.12 t haG) fibre yield which was statistically similar with herbicide 1 application (2.97 t haG). Interaction effect showed highest fiber yield (4.02 t haG) was obtained from 20 cm × 1 1 10 cm spacing with herbicide application. Whip Super 9 EC @ 615 ml haG effectively controlled the grass weeds 1 providing higher fibre yield and net 7.13 Taka return per Tk. invested whereas 6.51, 5.18 and 5.34 Tk. from two hand weedings with one raking, two hand weedings and three hand weeding respectively. Key words: Jute %Weed control methods %Plant spacing %Herbicide INTRODUCTION of stand for better growth and development of plant. Jute is a natural long, soft, shiny vegetable fibre that the yield of a crop. The hot and humid climate coupled can be spun into coarse, strong threads. It is produced with intermittent rainfall during the jute-growing season, from plants in the genus Corchorus, belonging to however, encourages weed growth resulting in severe Malvaceae. Jute is considered as the main cash crop of crop-weed competition [3]; account for the yield losses up Bangladesh and accounted for about 5-6% export to 75 to 80% [4]. Weeding is one of the most important earnings [1]. The suitable climate for growing jute (warm cultural practices for the crop plants to and sometimes and wet climate) is the monsoon season. Temperatures controlling many diseases, organisms and insect pest [5]. from 20°C to 40°C and relative humidity of 70%-80% are However, the most effective and economic cultural favourable for successful cultivation. Jute requires 5-8 cm practices for weed control in jute crops are not clearly of rainfall weekly and more during the sowing period. known by our farmers. In Bangladesh, weeds are generally Plant density is an important yield contributing factor controlled by raking and niri (hand weeding) and which can be manipulated in jute to attain higher fibre weeding and thinning operations involve more than 50% production per unit area. The yield of many crops is of the labour cost [6]. Grasses constitute the dominant known to be positively correlated with the number of weed flora in jute fields and its management using plants per unit area. If the plant population is lower or pre-emergence herbicides is possible [7], provided the higher than the optimum, the final output is adversely farmers get sufficient time for land preparation and affected [2]. In order to obtain required plant density, one herbicide application before sowing. Under rainfed of the major yield components of jute is optimum seed conditions, however, the farmers sow jute crop early to rate, resulting in proper spacing to maintain the uniformity get the full benefit of the pre-monsoon showers and it Weed control is important management factor that affect