International Journal of Homoeopathic Sciences

Weed management is a critical aspect of crop production, particularly in irrigated conditions where weed growth can be a major threat to crop yield and quality. This research investigates the comparative efficacy of manual and chemical weed control methods on the growth and yield of field pea (Pisum sativum) under irrigated conditions. The research was conducted in a field experiment, where two weed control techniques, manual weeding and chemical herbicide application, were applied to field pea crops. The growth parameters such as plant height, number of branches, and leaf area were monitored, along with yield components including pod number, seed number per pod, and total seed yield. Statistical analysis revealed that both weed control methods positively influenced plant growth and yield, but chemical herbicide treatment was found to significantly outperform manual weeding in terms of efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The manual weeding treatment required more labor input and resulted in higher costs, while the chemical treatment, though more cost-effective, raised concerns regarding the potential environmental and health impacts. The research concludes that chemical weed control offers higher productivity in terms of yield, though it comes with trade-offs related to environmental sustainability. Further research is recommended to explore integrated weed management strategies that combine the benefits of both methods while minimizing their drawbacks.