Performance of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) as Affected by Different Densities of Ranunculus spp. under Temperate Conditions of Kashmir Valley, India

A field study was carried out at the Agronomy research farm of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir during 2021-22 and 2022-23. The experiment was conducted in RCBD comprising of six weed densities viz., D0 (0), D1 (25), D2 (50), D3 (75), D4 (100), and D5 (125) plants m-2. The results revealed that wheat growth and yield was significantly influenced by Ranunculus spp. densities, and increasing densities showed a corresponding decrease in yield. Ranunculus produced higher biomass at its higher densities of 100 and 125 plants m-2 as compared to the lowest densities of 25 plants m-2 which significantly affected the growth and yield of crop. The wheat yield and yield attributes were negatively affected by an increase in the Ranunculus weed density. The data revealed that during both the years of study, maximum reductions in the number of effective tillers m-2 (23-24%), grains per ear (23-23.7%), ear weight (32-33%), 1000-grain (7-7.8%) weight, and grain yield (41- 45%) were recorded at the highest Ranunculus spp. density (125 plants m-2). However, the lowest density of 25 plants m-2 also caused only 8% and 6.3% losses in wheat yield during the years 2021-22 and 2022-23 respectively. Moreover, the yield losses were higher during the year 2021-22 because of the more competitive nature of the weed during the year. Thus, the study suggested that the weed is highly competitive in wheat-Ranunculus mixtures during early stages of the crop growth and pre-emergence herbicide (pendimethalin) after sowing of wheat and post-emergence herbicide (sulfosulfuron) in the 2nd week of March have been found effective in curbing the weed (Ranunculus spp.) and attaining higher wheat yield in Kashmir valley.