Assessing the Effect of Weed Management Practices on Yield of Maize in Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh

Abstract

One of the most important stress factors for maize (Zea mays L.) production is the competition with weeds for growth resources, which reduces crop yields. A field study in randomized completely block design (RCBD) with three replications was directed during rabi season at farmer’s field of Khagrachari hill district of Bangladesh to seek out the best eco-friendly weed management practice for maize production. The treatment combinations comprised of hand weeding, mulching, hand weeding + mulching, intercropping, herbicide and control (no weeding). In the practice of weed treatment in maize fields, compared with other treatments, hand weeding + mulching treatment had the lowest plant mortality (0.42%). Hand weeding + mulching also provided the highest plant height (282.97 cm), number of leaf plant^-1 (14.07), number of plants^-1 (2.17) of corn ears, length of corn ears (23.90 cm), and individual ears of corn Weight (289.48 g) compared with other treatments, corncob yield (9.29 t ha^-1), harvest index (27.41%). Through hand weeding + mulching treatment, the maximum weeding efficiency at development stages of corn was also obtained. While the control had the lowest growth and yield of maize compared to other treatments. So hand weeding + mulching treatment was recommended as a best eco-friendly effective weed management practice for maize production.