EVALUATION OF WEED MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON MUNG BEAN (Vigna radiata L.) YIELD AND YIELD COMPONENTS AT TEPPI, SOUTH WEST ETHIOPIA.

Abstract

Mung bean is characterized by fast growth, low water requirement, and excellent soil fertility enhancement through nitrogen fixation. The productivity of mung beans is decreased by weeds, diseases, and insect pests. Weed competition is among the most important factors responsible for the low yield of mung bean by as much as 87%. Therefore, this study was initiated to evaluate the effect of weed management practices on yield and yield components of mung bean (Vigna radiata L.). Nine control options (One-hand weeding at 4 weeks after sowing, complete weed control, No-weed control, Haloxyfop-R-methyl ester at 0.3, 0.6, and 0.3 kg ai ha⁻¹ + One-Hand weeding at 4 weeks after sowing, pendimethalin at 1, 1.5 and 1 kg ai ha⁻¹ + One-Hand weeding at 4 weeks after sowing) were compared in randomized complete block design in three replications. The application of herbicides and the weeding practices significantly reduced the broadleaf, sedge, and grass weeds. The highest grain yield (0.98 ton ha⁻¹), total dry biomass (2.82-ton ha⁻¹), and plant height (43.76 cm) were obtained in complete weed control followed by application of pendimethalin at 1.5 kg ai ha⁻¹ (0.92 ton ha⁻¹), total dry biomass (2.78 ton ha⁻¹), plant height (50.03 cm). The lowest grain yield (0.36 ton ha⁻¹), total dry biomass (1.59-ton ha⁻¹), and plant height (64.63 cm) were recorded from the No-weed control plot. The highest number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, and weight of a hundred seeds were recorded in complete weed control and application of pendimethalin at 1.5 kg ai ha⁻¹. The results indicated that complete weed control and/or control with pendimethalin at 1.5 kg ai ha⁻¹ were the best management practices to maximize economic benefit. Thus, we recommend using the applications of one of the two weed control methods for the management of weeds in mung bean in Teppi, South West Ethiopia, and locations with similar agroecologies of Teppi.