Integrated Weed Management in Rabi Popcorn (Zea mays var. everta)

Speciality corns viz. sweetcorn, popcorn, babycorn, high oilcorn etc. assume tremendous market potential not only in India but in international market as well. Among the different types of maize, popcorn [Zea mays L. var. everta (Sturtev.) L.H. Bailey] is one of the major ones, which is popular as a snack food in many parts of world. Its kernels are composed of hard starch, when heated, swell and burst. Because of low sugar, fat and calories, it is good food for health. Groundnut-wheat is the pre-dominant cropping system of the Saurashtra region of Gujarat. High input cost and labour requirement along with low market price are major constraints in wheat cultivation. Being a C4 plant suited better under the climate change condition and photo-insensitive crop, popcorn seems to be the best alternate crop in place of wheat, which needs to be tested under south Saurashtra agro-climatic conditions. Weed infestation is a major problem in rabi popcorn. Wider row spacing and liberal use of irrigation and fertilizers lead to more growth of weeds. So it is imperative to evolve weed management practice.