Effect of nitrogen and sulfur on weed infestation and rapeseed productivity

Nutrient management over a wide range is the major agronomic practices to reduce weeds infestation and increasing rapeseed productivity. Weeds compete with crop for some resources i.e. light, water, nutrients and space, causing serious damage to crop by reducing crop yield and net return. Hence the experiment was conducted at Plato research farm, Amir Muhammad khan campus Mardan, The University of Agriculture Peshawar during rabi 2015-16 to study the effect of N and S on weed infestation and yield of rapeseed. The trail was laid out in randomized complete block design replicated three times. Cv. Zahoor was used as a test crop. The experimental treatments include two levels of N i.e. 75 and 125 kg ha-1 and two levels of sulfur i.e. 15 and 30 kg ha-1 along with one control treatment. Results of the study indicated that yield as well as weeds infestation were significantly affected by various levels of S and N. Increments in N fertilization resulted maximum seed yield, biological yield, HI and also increases weeds infestation. Higher yield of rapeseed was recorded with 30 kg S ha-1 along with 125 kg N ha-1. This study revealed that the competitive ability of rapeseed against weeds may enhance with the use of optimum levels of S and N.