INTER CULTIVATION IN FRUIT VEGETABLES

BRINJAL Shallow cultivation will be sufficient to provide good environment to the plant and it will also help in reducing the weeds. If weed pose a problem, chemical control may also be followed .Application of basalin @ 2-3 litres/hac should be done at pre emergence. A few weed plants associated with brinjal crop are: Trianthema portulacastrum, Orobanche spp, Amaranthus viridis, Cyperus rotundus etc., CHILLIES In order to make soil loose around root system and to keep down the weeds, intercultural operations should be done. Chemical control of weeds may be done with alachlor 50 EC @ 2 litres per hectare as pre plant herbicide with one hand weeding effectively control weeds. TOK granular application@ 5 kg per hectare is found to control weeds in chilli crop. TOMATO Interculture operations is an essential operation of weed killing and maintenance of soil mulch. As far as possible, all the intercultural operations should be shallow so that the roots which spread up to a depth of 5 cm below the surface soil may not be injured. Weeds affect growth and yield of tomato. They compete for nutrients and water, therefore, it is essential to check them before they become a problem. The early stage of the crop is the critical period for weed competition and during this period free environment is needed to ensure good growth and yield. Important weeds in tomato are: Trianthema portulacastrum, Digeria arvnsis, Amaranthus viridis, Portulaca oleracea, Chloris barbata, Echinichloa colonum, Gynandropsis pentaphylla. OKRA Hoeing is done twice or thrice during early stage of plant growth to provide better conditions for plant growth. The most critical period of crop weed competition in okra is at 30-60 days after sowing. Hand weeding is costly and time consuming. The important weed plants are Dactyloctenium aegyptium, Dualoindica, tribulus terrestris, Cyperus rotundus. Soil application with basalin at 1-2 lit/hec or TOK-E-25 at 5 lit/hec will control the weeds effectively.

PEA Hoeing once during early stage of crop growth will suffice the purpose of providing good environment for plant growth for aeration and development of root system and reducing the weeds. If weeds pose a problem, chemical control may be adopted. Most of the weeds can be controlled by use of weed species associated with peas depending on a region of where crop is grown. They are Amaranthus viridis, Anagalis arvensis, Chenopodium album, Chichorium intybus, Convolvulus arvensis, Cynodon dactylan, Eleusine spp, Fumaria parviflora, Medicago spp, Poa annua, Trigonella polycerata etc.
dr_esreddy@yahoo.co.in 30th july 2011