International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) ISSN (Online): 2319-7064 Index Copernicus Value (2015): 78.96 | Impact Factor (2015): 6.391 Volume 6 Issue 8, August 2017 www.ijsr.net Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY Residual Effects of Weed and Nutrient Management in Maize + Cowpea Intercropping System on Yield of Succeeding Sesame Richard Y. P. Lokose 1 , S. N. Jena 2 , B Behera 3 , Jitendriya Behera 4 Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology-Bhubaneswa-751003, Odisha, India Abstract: A field experiment was conducted during 2015-016 and 2016-017 at Central Research Station, OUAT, Bhubaneswar on loamy sand soil to investigate the residual effect of weed and nutrient management in maize + cowpea intercropping system on yield of succeeding sesame. The field experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with three replications by taking 16 treatment combinations of four nutrient management in main plot [F 1 =Recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) @ 120, 60, 60 kg/ha N, P 2 O 5 and K 2 O ( for maize ) +10, 20, 10 kg/ha N, P 2 O 5 and K 2 O (for cowpea), F 2 = RDF+FYM 5 t/ha, F 3 = RDF + 0.2 Lime requirement (LR), F 4 = RDF+FYM 5 t/ha + Lime 0.2 LR] and four weed management in sub-plot [W 1 = Pendimethalin @ 0.75 kg/ha, W 2 = Oxyfluorfen @ 0.03 kg/ha, W 3 = Farmer practices at 20 DAS, W 4 = Weedy check]. The results revealed that residue of RDF + FYM + lime recorded the maximum number of capsules/plant (32.3) which resulted in maximum seed yield of 0.55 t/ha. Likewise residue oxyfluorfen @ 0.03 kg/ha produced maximum number of capsules/plant (31.4) with maximum seed yield (0.52 t/ha) of succeeding sesame crop. Residual effect of combined application of RDF + FYM + lime along with pre-emergence application of oxyfluorfen @ 0.03 kg/ha prove to be the best for the increased productivity and profitability of sesame and gave the maximum mean gross return (Rs 31275/-), net return (Rs 19275/-) and benefit-cost ratio of 2.61 as well as improved soil quality. Keywords: Recommended dose of fertilizer, Economics, Lime requirement, Oxyfluorfen, Pendimethalin and Phyto-toxicity 1. Introduction In the context of sustainable agriculture and the issues related to it, a viable cropping system approach with a feasible and profitable crop management practice is the need of the hour for sustaining productivity of the land and also for sustaining production for human consumption. Therefore, a technological breakthrough in agro-techniques especially in cropping system, nutrient and weed management is essential so as to improve productivity under maize based cropping system. Moreover, in Odisha, most farmers practice monoculture and in many pockets fields are kept fallow after maize during the rabi season. 2. Literature Survey Sesame (Sesamum indicum) is an important rabi oilseed crop. By virtue of its early maturing, sesame fits well into a number of multiple cropping systems either as a catch crop or a sequence crop in rabi and pre-kharif seasons [1]. Therefore its importance and potentiality to be adopted as an economical crop in maize based sequential cropping has been well marked because of its ability to grow even in marginal soils. Considering the above points, it was felt pertinent to undertake an investigation to study the residual effect of weed and nutrient management in maize + cowpea on yield of succeeding sesame. 3. Materials and Methods A field experiment was conducted during kharif seasons of 2015-16 and 2016-17 at Central Research Station, OUAT- Bhubaneswar. The soil of the experimental plot was loamy sand in texture, low in available nitrogen (204 kg/ha), high in available phosphorus (45 kg/ha) and medium in available potassium (184 kg/ha), organic carbon (0.34%) with pH (4.71) and EC (0.46 dsm -1 ). The field experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with three replications by taking 16 treatment combinations of four nutrient management in main plot [F 1 =Recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) @ 120, 60, 60 kg/ha N, P 2 O 5 and K 2 O ( for maize ) +10, 20, 10 kg/ha N, P 2 O 5 and K 2 O (for cowpea), F 2 = RDF+FYM 5 t/ha, F 3 = RDF + 0.2 Lime requirement (LR), F 4 = RDF+FYM 5 t/ha + Lime 0.2 LR] and four weed management in sub-plot [W 1 = Pendimethalin @ 0.75 kg/ha, W 2 = Oxyfluorfen @ 0.03 kg/ha, W 3 = Farmer practices at 20 DAS, W 4 = Weedy check]. During rabi season sesame (Prachi) was grown on residual effects of weed and nutrient management treatments. Sowing of was performed on 15 th and17 th of October 2015 and 2016 respectively. For both kharif seasons, Urea, Single Super Phosphate and Potash were the source of Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potash respectively. The herbicides were applied as pre-emergence on next day after sowing using Knapsack sprayer fitted with flat fan nozzle by mixing 500 litres of water per ha. Hand weeding as per treatment was done at 20 DAS. Weedy check plots remained infested with native population of weed till harvest. In case of rabi sesame, weed and nutrient management practices were not imposed, but the treatments were kept uniformly weedy free. 4. Results and Discussion 4.1 Residual effect of herbicide on succeeding sesame Pre-emergence application of herbicide oxyfluorfen @ 0.03 kg/ha or pendimethalin @ 0.75 kg/ha in maize + cowpea intercropping system registered no phytotoxic effect on succeeding sesame. Earlier findings revealed pendirnethalin application at recommended doses in maize did not leave Paper ID: ART20176215 1191