Abstract
Aim : Eco-friendly and sustainable weed management tactics are advocated by weed managers worldwide. In order to develop such a technology, an experiment was undertaken at Agronomic Research Area of the Faculty of Agriculture, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan during rabi season.
Methodology : A 2-factor experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with split plot arrangement with the planting patterns (line and criss cross sowings) assigned to main plots and seed rates (50, 100, 150, 200 kg ha(-1) of wheat kept into sub plots.
Results : Weed density and biomass at harvest were 28 and 33%, lesser in a criss cross as compared to line sowing. Weed suppression was inversely and grain yield was directly proportional to seeding rates. The highest grain yield (6.9 t ha) was obtained from the interaction of 200 kg ha(-1) seed rate under criss cross planting.
Interpretation : Regardless of planting pattern, 37% higher grain yield was harvested at the highest rate (200 kg ha(-1)) as compared to the lowest (50 kg ha(-1) seed rate. Thus, integration of denser crop and uniform stand via criss cross pattern planting in small grains can reduce the pollution of herbicides and energy cost on weed management.