Effect of topramezone herbicide on weed suppression, crop safety and productivity in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) productivity is often constrained by severe weed infestation, particularly during early growth stages, necessitating efficient and safe weed management strategies. The use of post-emergence herbicides is limited due to potential crop phytotoxicity, highlighting the need for alternative options. A field trial was undertaken at Sriniketan, West Bengal, during the rabi seasons of 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 to study the performance of topramezone at different application rates as a post-emergence herbicide in chickpea cultivation. The experiment followed a randomised block design consisting of 9 treatments replicated 3 times, comparing topramezone (15–25 g ha-1) with standard herbicides, pendimethalin and imazethapyr. Results revealed that application of topramezone at 25 g ha-1 at 25 days after sowing significantly reduced weed density and dry weight, resulting in improved crop growth and productivity. This treatment showed performance comparable to pendimethalin (750 g ha-1) and superior to imazethapyr (60 g ha-1). European Weed Research Council (EWRC) phytotoxicity scores for all topramezone treatments remained at one across all observation intervals, indicating no crop injury, whereas imazethapyr caused transient phytotoxicity (score up to 4 at 7 days after herbicide application) that declined by 30 days after application. Higher plant height, leaf area index, dry matter accumulation and seed yield (1402.58 kg ha-1) were recorded under this treatment. The study demonstrates that topramezone at 25 g ha-1 can serve as an effective and safe post-emergence herbicide in chickpea cultivation.
Source: Plant Science Today
DOI: 10.14719/pst.16775
Authors: S R Meka, K Manika, G Pritam, A S Kader, S Guruwaan
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7225808264