INTEGRATED WEED MANAGEMENT
Weeds cause significant reduction in cane yield, if not controlled in time. Integrated weed management is therefore essential. This management consists of the use of various weed control chemicals, cultural practices like hoeing, inter-culture and trash mulching. The pre – emergence application of chemicals viz. Atrazine (Atrataf), Simazine, Diuron and Sencor has been found effective in controlling all the weeds except Cyprus rotundus. For suppressing this particular weed, post emergence application of 2,4-D (Sodium salt) is recommended.
Grammoxone (post-emergence) and Roundup (Glyphosate), two non-selective herbicides can also be used to control the weeds if applied with directed spray nozzles in between cane rows avoiding spray on sugarcane plant.
WEED FREE FIELD WITH PRE-EMERGENCE APPLICATION OF SENCOR
The pre-emergence application of weed control chemicals can be made with tractor mounted sprayers immediately after planting to cover larger area within short period. The hand weeding being costly, the weeds can be very effectively controlled with tractor drawn inter-culture implements specially designed for the purpose. Earthing up with tractor drawn ridger in May-June also smothers the weeds very effectively. In certain areas trash mulching can also be used to control weeds and conserve moisture.