Nitrogen and Weed Management Practices in Coriander: Cultural and Chemicals

Spices sector is one of the key areas in which India has an inherent strength to dominate the global market. India is the largest producer, consumer and exporter of spices in the world. Among the spices, coriander is cultivated in India as a commercial crop. In Gujarat it is second most important spice crop after cumin, which is grown all over the state. Among primary nutrients, nitrogen has a considerable effect, not only on quality but also on the quantity of seed. Nitrogen is one of the most important element as well as expensive input in agriculture. An adequate supply of nitrogen is closely associated with growth and development of plant. Coriander being an irrigated crop it suffers badly with weed infestation. Moreover coriander seed takes longer time for germination and also having slow early vegetative growth, the crop is very sensitive to early weed competition. Uncontrolled weeds can reduced coriander seed yield by as much as 40 per cent. The use of herbicides is one of the options to eliminate crop weed competition easily. There is possibility to maintain high crop production under a lower level of nitrogenous fertilization by controlling the weed through herbicide.