Description

Cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) is an important drought resistant, hardy and annual leguminous crop. Cluster bean is used for human consumption, cattle feed, medicinal and industrial purpose as well as for soil improvement. In recent year it has emerged out as an industrial crop, due to presence of galactomannan 30-35 % of seed weight in its endosperm. Guar gum has industrial uses such as food processing, ceramics, paints, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, synthetic resins, water blocking agents in explosives and as a thickener, fire retardant etc. Slow growth at initial stages of the crop favors recurrent flushes of weeds, which compete with crop for essentials of growth and cause heavy reduction in its seed yield. Critical period for crop-weed competition in cluster bean has been identified as 20-30 days after sowing and presence of weeds beyond these results in yield reductions by 47 to 92 %. Weed management alone is responsible to increase the seed yield by 68 % a combination of weed management practices in an integrated manner makes weed management more effective and economical.