SYNOPSIS OF THE PROPOSED RESEARCH PROJECT FOR NATIONAL

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (NST) FELLOWSHIP 2015-2016

1. Research Title:

In English: EFFECT OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF SORGHUM CROP RESIDUES

ON WEED MANAGEMENT AND CROP PERFORMANCE OF WHEAT
In Bangla: AvMvQv e¨e¯’vcbv I M‡gi dmj Kg©¶gZvi Dci †Rvqvi dm‡ji Aewkóvsk Gi
Rjxq wbh©v‡mi cÖfve

2. Introduction:
Wheat (Triticum aestivum) is one of the major cereal crops of the world ranking first both in acreage and
production. It is the second important cereal crop in Bangladesh and its production may substitute the
demand of food grains to some extents. The area under wheat cultivation (2012- 2013) was about 1029 (000’
acres) producing 1255 (000’ M.ton) with an average yield of 1.319 M.ton per acre (BBS, 2013). About one
third of the world’s population live on wheat (BARI, 2005). In Bangladesh wheat is grown during rabi
season. Weed cause substantial decline in wheat production. Infestation of weed is one of the most important
causes for low yield of wheat. It competes with wheat plant for light, nutrient and space. As a result grain
yield of wheat become affected. To overcome weed infestation, presently researchers are giving more
emphasis using different crop residues to suppress weed growth. Exploitation of allelopathic potential of
different crop/plant species for weed management under field condition is one of the effective practical
methods. Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Monech] is one of the strongest allelopathic crops which have
been extensively used as a cover crop or through incorporation in soil or aqueous extract spraying to reduce
the weed content. The use of sorghum aqueous extract (sorgaab) as a foliar weed inhibitor in wheat has
recently been reported. Iqbal (1997) reported that sorgaab reduce weed biomass 25-35% and increased
wheat yield by 18.60%. The effects of sorghum allelochemicals are selective, species specific and
concentration dependent.

3. Objectives:
1. To evaluate the effectiveness of aqueous extract of sorghum crop residues for suppressing weed growth.
2. To estimate the efficacy of aqueous extract of sorghum crop residues on yield performance of wheat.
3. To establish an easy, economic and sustainable method for efficient weed management and better yield.

4. Methodology
4.1. Experimental site: The experiment will be conducted in the Agronomy Field Laboratory, Dept. of
Agronomy, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202.

4.2. Treatment of the experiment:

Factor A: Aqueous extract of sorghum crop residues (5)
i. No use of extract (control)
ii. 100% concentrated aqueous extract
iii. 75% concentrated aqueous extract
iv. 50% concentrated aqueous extract
v. Hand weeding

Factor B: Variety
i. BARI GOM19 (Sourav)
ii. BARI GOM21 (Shatabdi)
iii.BARI GOM24 (Prodip)
4.3. Experimental Design and Layout
The experiment will be laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications.
Thus total number of plot will be 45. Each plot size will be (2m × 2.5m). The aqueous mustard extract will
be applied at 7 days after sowing of wheat.

4.4. Statistical Analysis: Data will be collected at different growth stages and finally at harvesting stage.
The collected data will be analyzed statistically using the ANVA and MSTAT-C and the mean differences
will be compared by “New Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT)” and finally a thesis will be written.

5. Time Frame of the Research Work:

To achieve the required objectives it will take one year with the following schedule:
Activities Months
1. Land preparation and field management 1.5 months
2. Seed sowing and procurement 1 month
3. Other management practices and harvesting 4 months
4. Data collection 2 months
5. Statistical analysis of data 1.5 months
6. Result preparation and thesis writing 2 months
Total 12 months

6. Contribution and Socio-Economic Importance of the Research

Yield increase in wheat with environmentally sound management practices along with economically suitable
practices is the main goal of this study. Sustainable crop production is the main theme in agricultural
production system all over the world. To make sustainable crop production it is important to increase the
yield with the technology which are acceptable by the society and are environmentally friendly. By using
phytotoxic crop residues our resource poor farmers will be benefited through reduction of weed control cost
as well as maintains the good soil condition. And thus, it may be remarkable success to alleviate the poverty
level of Bangladesh.

References
BBS (Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics) 2013. Monthly Statistical of Bangladesh, June 2013. Stat. Div.,
Minis. Plan. Govt. People’s Repub. Bangladesh, Dhaka. p 54.
BARI (Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute) 2005.Means of profitable wheat cultivation (A booklet
in Bengali).Wheat Res. Inst. Nashipur, Dinajpur. pp 1-11.
Iqbal M. 1997. Response of recent wheat varieties and some rabi weeds to the allelopathic effects of
sorghum water extract. M.Sc. Thesis, Univ. Agri., Faisalabad.

………………………………. ……………………………..
Signature of the Supervisor Signature of the researcher
Dr. Md. Romij Uddin Foysal Ahmed
Professor Roll No.: 16 Ag. Agron JD -M
Department of Agronomy Reg. No.: 38755
Bangladesh Agricultural University Session : 2011-12
Mymensingh-2202 MS in Agronomy
Mobile: 01780370135 Bangladesh Agricultural University
E-mail: romijagron@yahoo.com Mymensingh-2202