Effect of Weed Management Approaches on Weed Density and Weed Control Efficiency in Apple Nursery Plants Grafted on Clonal Rootstock

Aims: The study aimed to evaluate the influence of different weed management approaches on weed density and weed control efficiency in apple nurseries. Study Design: The experimental method used in this study was a Randomized Complete Block Design with seven treatments, each replicated three times. Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was set up at the Experimental Farm, Division of Fruit Science, Faculty of Horticulture, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar Campus, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India during the year 2020. Methodology: Seven weed management treatments i.e. manual weeding, pendimethalin @ 1 kg a.i. ha-1, pendimethalin @ 1 kg a.i. ha-1 + manual weeding, paddy straw mulch – 6 cm thick, black polyethylene mulch - 200 micron, weed-free and weedy check were tested in apple nursery (Apple cv. Silver) Spur grafted on M-9 T337 was used as plant material for the study. Weed flora, density, dry weight, and weed control efficiency were all observed and recorded. Results: Among different weed management approaches tested, black polyethylene mulch (200 micron) resulted in the lowest weed density and weed dry weight, and the highest weed control efficiency followed by paddy straw mulch (6 cm thick) and pendimethalin @ 1 kg a.i. ha-1 + manual weeding. Conclusion: In apple nurseries on clonal rootstock M9-T337, black polyethylene (200 micron) was determined to be the most effective weed control strategy for reducing weed density while increasing overall control efficiency.