Describes common weed flora of wheat and strategy for its management.

1. Weed Management in Wheat crop in India.
Dr. Subhomay Sinha, W.B.A.S.

2. ֎ Weeds compete for sunlight, soil moisture, nutrients and space.
֎ Depending upon nature of weed flora and degree of infestation,
yield losses up to 15 – 30 % could occur due to weed infestation in
wheat.
֎ Initial 30 – 35 days after sowing is very crucial for weed growth. So
weed control measures should be taken during this period to attain
maximum grain yield.

3. List of important weeds of Wheat, found in India under different Agro – Climatic condition

4. Identification of problematic
weed flora of WHEAT

5. Grassy Weeds
Phalaris minor

6. Grassy Weeds
Avena fatua

7. Grassy Weeds
Lolium temunentum

8. Grassy Weeds
Poa annua

9. Eleusine indica
Grassy Weeds

10. Grassy Weeds
leptochloa chinensis

11. Sedges Weeds
Cyperus rotundus

12. Broad leaved Weeds
Chenopodium album

13. Broad leaved Weeds
Fumaria parviflora

14. Broad leaved Weeds
Vicia sativa

15. Broad leaved Weeds
Anagalis arvensis.

16. Broad leaved Weeds
Melilotus indicus

17. Broad leaved Weeds
Lathyrus aphaca

18. Rumex denticulata
Broad leaved Weeds

19. Cichorium intybus
Broad leaved Weeds

20. Carthamus oxyacantha
Broad leaved Weeds

21. Convolvulus arvensis
Broad leaved Weeds

22. Cirsium arvense
Broad leaved Weeds

23. Ageratum conyzodes
Broad leaved Weeds

24. Argemone mexicana
Broad leaved Weeds

25. Cynodon dactylon
Broad leaved Weeds

26. Cardiospermum helicacabam
Broad leaved Weeds

27. Euphorbia helioscopia
Broad leaved Weeds

28. Broad leaved Weeds
Euphorbia hirta

29. Broad leaved Weeds
Medicago denticulata

30. Broad leaved Weeds
Parthenium hysterophorus

31. Oxalis spp.
Broad leaved Weeds

32. Broad leaved Weeds
Coronopus didymus

33. Broad leaved Weeds
Solanum nigrum

34. Broad leaved Weeds
Amaranthus viridis

35. Broad leaved Weeds
Melilotus alba

36. Broad leaved Weeds
Caesulia axillaris

37. Management of Weeds in wheat field Cultural control
 Use of certified wheat seeds, free from weeds and other
contaminants.
 Early sowing in the field, prior to 15th Nov, with closer spacing
(< 18 cm) could avoid weed infestation. Line sowing is more
beneficial than conventional broadcasting.
 Sowing with zero till seed cum fertilizer drill ensures
minimizes weed seed germination.
 Fertilizer should be applied at root zone of wheat crop to avoid
uptake of fertilizer by weeds.
 Bunds and irrigation channels should be free from weeds.
 Quick and fast growing varieties of wheat should be selected,
which can overcome weed competition.

38. Management of Weeds in wheat field Cultural control
 Tractors, power tillers etc should be properly cleaned before
starting any sowing operation. This helps to reduce
contamination of weed seeds with wheat seeds, which might
taking place through farm machineries.
 Crop rotation like Wheat – Jute – Rice can break the cycle of
weed dominance and reduces weed pressure.
 Use of straw mulch could minimize weed problem. It could be
achieved by sowing wheat seed with Happy seeder in fields,
where rice was grown as previous crop. Happy seeder is able
to sow wheat seeds in rice field, and the rice straw could be
used as mulch.

39. Management of Weeds in wheat field
Mechanical control
 Hand hoeing and hand pulling of weeds, employing human
labour, though it is costly and time taking method. Hand
weeding should be done at 30 – 45 DAS to get the best result.
 Before sowing of wheat, one or two blind tillage is beneficial
to suppress weed growth.
 Weed control by stale bed technique is also effective.

40. Management of Weeds in wheat field
Chemical control As pre - emergence
PENDIMETHELENE 30 EC can be used at 0 – 3 days after sowing. It is
applied as spray on the field @ 1.5 mL / L of water. It controls grasses as well
as broad leaved weeds. During spray, there should be moisture in the field.

41. Management of Weeds in wheat field
Chemical control As post - emergence
For controlling broad leaved and grassy weeds
1. SULFOSULFURON @ 25 gm a.i. / ha, dissolving in 300 L of water
2. METRIBUZIN @ 175 gm a.i. / ha, dissolving in 500 L of water.
3. PINOXADEN @ 60 gm a.i. / ha, dissolving in 500 L of water
4. Mixture of SULFOSULFURON @ 25 gm a.i. / ha & METSULFURON METHYL
@ 4 gm a.i. / ha in 500 L of water.
5. ISOPROTURON @ 750 – 1000 gm a.i. / ha, dissolving in 800 L of water.
6. FENOXAPROP – P – ETHYL @ 100 gm a.i. / ha, dissolving in 500 L of water.
These should be applied within 21 – 30 days of sowing, after giving 1st irrigation.

42. Management of Weeds in wheat field
Chemical control As post - emergence
For controlling of grassy weeds only
1. CLODINAFOP – PROPAGYL @ 60 gm a.i. / ha, dissolving in 300 L of
water
2. METRIBUZIN @ 175 gm a.i. / ha, dissolving in 500 L of water.
3. FENOXAPROP –P – ETHYL @ 100 gm a.i. / ha, dissolving in 500 L of
water
These should be applied within 21 – 30 days of sowing, after giving 1st irrigation.

43. Management of Weeds in wheat field
Chemical control As post - emergence
For controlling of broad leaved weeds only
a) 2, 4 – D – SODIUM SALT @ 800 gm a.i. / ha, dissolving in 500 L of
water
b) METSULFURON METHYL @ 20 gm a.i. / ha, dissolving in 300 L of
water.
These should be applied within 21 – 30 days of sowing, after giving 1st irrigation.

44. Sulfosulfuron 75 % WG
Example of some commercial herbicide formulation

45. Sulfosulfuron 75 % + Metsulfuron Methyl 5 % WDG
Example of some commercial herbicide formulation

46. Metribuzin 70 % WP
Example of some commercial herbicide formulation

47. Pinoxaden 5.1 EC
Example of some commercial herbicide formulation

48. Clodinafop – propagyl 15 % WP
Example of some commercial
herbicide formulation

49. Example of some commercial herbicide formulation
Isoproturon 75 % WP

50. Example of some commercial herbicide formulation
Metsulfuron Methyl 20 % WP

51. Fenoxaprop-p-ethyl 9.3 EC
Example of some commercial herbicide formulation

52. Example of some commercial herbicide formulation
2, 4-D Ethyl Ester, 38 % EC

53. Example of some commercial herbicide formulation
2, 4-D Sodium salt, 80 % EC.

54. 2, 4-D Amine salt, 58 % EC.
Example of some commercial herbicide formulation

55. Precautions :
In case of mixed cropping / inter cropping with other crops like
mustard, linseed, etc, care should be taken before selection &
application of herbicides.
Post emergence herbicides should only be applied as spray. It
should never been applied by mixing with sand / soil or with
urea fertilizers.
 Clodinafor – propergyl and Fenoxiprop should not be mixed
with 2, 4 – D.
Spray should be done during sunny days, when foliage is dry.
Flooding or heavy irrigation reduces the effect of herbicides. So
light irrigation should be provided.