A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of herbicides on weed control and soil microbial activity. The experiment consisted of 12 treatments laid out RCBD. The treatments consisted of herbicides viz., atrazine, 2,4-D, tembotrione, topramezone and their tank mixtures sprayed at 16 DAS as early post emergent herbicides, they were checked against recommended weed management practice- atrazine kg ha -1 (PRE) + 1HW + 1IC, sequential application-atrazine (PRE) fb 2,4-D,Weed free and weedy check. The results indicated that significantly lower weed density ( per m2 ), Weed index ( %) was observed with application of topramezone + 2,4-D next to recommended weed management practices. The next best treatment was tembotrione + 2,4-D. The mixtures recorded broad spectrum weed control than sole application of herbicides. Higher biological activity with respect to dehydrogenase activity ( μg TPF g -1 soil day-1 ) was observed in topramezone + 2,4-D. Higher grain yield (5582 kg ha-1 ) and net returns (53769 ₹ ha-1 ) was recorded in topramezone + 2,4-D next to recommended weed management practice. However weedy check was inferior to all other treatments. | Effect of early post emergent herbicides/ herbicide mixtures on weed control and soil biological activity in maize L
