Evaluating Weed Management Strategies and the Differential Effects of Herbicides on Weed Dynamics and Crop performance of Foxtail Millet Grown under the Irrigated Conditions of Rayalaseema

At the wetland farm of S.V. Agricultural College, Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India, a field experiment was carried out during the (rainy season) kharif 2020 to evaluating weed management strategies and the differential effects of herbicides on weed dynamics and crop performance of foxtail millet [Setaria italica (L.) Beauv] grown under the irrigated conditions of Rayalaseema. The current study has shown that the application of pre-emergence pretilachlor 500 g ha-1 with intercultivation at 20 DAS was followed by hand weeding twice at 20 and 40 DAS and it led to the highest weed control efficiency, including foxtail millet's nutrient uptake, and the lowest weed density and dry weight. In unweeded check, a heavy weed infestation reduced the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium absorbed by crop by 45.67, 18.03, and 35 kg ha-1, respectively. Crop growth parameters, straw and grain production was increased by hand weeding twice, however the benefit-cost ratio lagged behind the most effective weed management strategy, which is applying pre-emergence of pretilachlor 500 g ha-1with intercultivation at 20 DAS. The present experiment indicated that wherever the labour availability for hand weeding is abundant and cheaper, one can go for hand weeding or opt for the said herbicide recommendation taking into the economical considerations.

A Scale to Measure the Attitude of Cotton Growers towards Weather Based Agro-Advisory Services in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh States

In this modern era, climate change is the most severe challenge experienced in the field of agriculture. To become climate smart, farmers should be equipped well with weather forecast information in prior to do farm operations. Hence, this study represents the construction of an attitude scale to understand the attitude of farmers towards weather based agro-advisory services. Keeping this in view, an attempt has been made to develop a scale for measuring the attitude of farmers towards weather based agro-advisory services in cotton cultivation. Likert’s method of summated rating technique was adopted to construct the scale. Based on the available literature and expert’s opinion, 40 statements were developed. After editing as per informal criteria, 33 statements were subjected to item analysis among the farmers of non-sample area. Out of which, 30 statements were retained in the developed attitude scale based on the highest ‘t’ value. The ‘r’ (correlation coefficient) value was found to be 0.852 which represents significant at 1 per cent level and the reliability and validity of the constructed scale were found appropriate to measure the attitude of cotton farmers towards weather based agro-advisory services.