Estimation of critical period of crop-weed competition in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.)

A field experiment was conducted in 1994 and 1995 to estimate the critical period of crop-weed competition in the starchy food crop sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.). In both years the plants were kept weedfree for various periods after planting or weeds were allowed to grow with sweet potato for di...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Advances in horticultural science 1998-01, Vol.12 (2), p.101-104
Main Authors: Nedunzhiyan, M., Varma, S.P., Ray, R.C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Critical periods
Crop harvesting
Food crops
Planting
Plants
Short note
Sweet potatoes
Tubers
Weed competition
Weed control
Weeds
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Summary:A field experiment was conducted in 1994 and 1995 to estimate the critical period of crop-weed competition in the starchy food crop sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.). In both years the plants were kept weedfree for various periods after planting or weeds were allowed to grow with sweet potato for different periods before being removed. The tuber yield was significantly reduced when weeds were allowed to grow beyond 45 days after planting in both years. Further delay in weed removal treatments caused drastic yield reduction. There was no significant difference in tuber yield per ha when kept weed-free up to 45 days after planting or up to harvest. The effect of long interference periods on tuber number per plant was drastic. Trends were similar to those obtained with total yield. Based upon average yield of the two years, the critical period of crop weed competition was between 30-45 days after sweet potato planting. Farmers must control weeds in this period to get optimum yield.
ISSN:0394-6169
1592-1573