Agroforestry has emerged as a highly attractive form of sustainable agriculture in recent times, which is crucial for adequate nourishment and food security for a population that is constantly expanding. This is particularly true for a densely populated nation like India, which has 142.8 crore people living in it. Consequently, agroforestry has been more and more popular, encompassing 43.3 million hectares at this time, an increase of more than 4.21 million hectares (9.69%) between 1990 and 2020 (FAO, 2020). An

estimated 25.31 million hectares, or 8.2 percent, of India's total reported geographical area is currently covered by agroforestry. Because of this, agroforestry makes up, on average, 14.2% of all farmed land. Agri- horticulture-based land use systems (LUSs) present a viable alternative strategy for reducing and mitigating carbon emissions through CO₂ sequestration under the agro-climatic conditions of Mirzapur. These systems offer multiple benefits for enhancing livelihoods in the region, including higher yields of staple food crops, increased fodder production, improved soil health, reduced soil erosion, and a significant contribution to mitigating anthropogenic warming via carbon sequestration. (Gupta et al., 2024). In places like Uttar Pradesh, agroforestry covers 1.86 million hectares of land (Dhyani et al., 2013). Hence agroforestry combined with a high-value commercial crop such that of maize, has a considerably greater positive effect on farmers' total economic welfare and providing food security than the more widely used monoculture cropping method (Ranum et al., 2014; Murdia et al., 2016). Maize (Zea mays L.) is believed to be endemic to Central Americas and Mexico has attained the status of a commercial crop and is globally established as the third most important cereal crop after wheat and rice, acquiring it name “Queen of cereals” (Yadesa and Diro, 2023). With 4.87 percent of the world's land under cultivation and the potential to significantly increase cultivation in the near future, India is the world's fifth-largest producer of maize, accounting for roughly 2.5 percent of production worldwide.In India,

9.40 million hectares of maize are planted, yielding a total yield of 27.78 million tonnes during the 2021–2022 season. The yield of maize during the kharif season accounts for about 70% of the country's yearly yield of 19.47 million tonnes. (Unjia et al., 2021 and Rakshit et al., 2023). Although maize can be grown all year round, there are a number of issues that can arise when it is grown in rainfed conditions during the kharif season (Chaurasia et al., 2021). These include pests, diseases, soil degradation from improper management, erosion during heavy rainfall, and water stress from uneven rainfall distribution. However, the main cause of these issues is still weed infestation. The estimated global yield loss in maize attributed to weeds is approximately 37% (Mhlanga et al., 2016). The yield loss in maize attributed to weeds varies from 28-93% based on the kind of weed flora and the severity and length of crop weed competition, as well as the density and stage of emergence (Kumawat et al., 2019 and Chaudhary et al., 2021). To solve this problem the latest developments in chemical weed management techniques, applying herbicides to weeds is proving to be a more affordable, efficient, and effective way to control weeds in kharif maize since normal practice of manual weeding can become extremely difficult to either constant rainfall, the prevailing wet soil condition or the bright sun (Kumar et al., 2017 and Maqsood et al., 2020). The goal of the present study was to evaluate the effects of different establishment methods and herbicide treatments on weed dynamics, as well as the growth and productivity of maize. Additionally, the study aimed to assess the economic viability of the agroforestry system

The field trail was carried out at the Agricultural Research Farm, Rajiv Gandhi South Campus, Banaras Hindu University, Barkachha, Mirzapur (25°05′N and 82°58′E and at an altitude of 143 m above mean sea level), Uttar Pradesh, India. An experiment was laid out during the kharif cropping season of 2022 in factorial randomized complete block design. The soil of the site was sandy clay loam with a pH 6.7 and organic carbon content of 0.37%. The experiment aimed to determine key components such as weed composition, crop yield and economic returns within the maize (Zea mays)–bael (Aegle marmelos) agri- horti system. It followed a factorial design comprising two factors:, i.e., establishment methods (at two levels: M1: Conventional method and M2: Ridge and furrow method) and herbicidal treatments (at four levels: W1: Atrazine 1.0 kg/ha PE fb topramezone 25.2 g/ha at 25 DAS, W2: Atrazine 1.0 kg/ha PE fb halosulfuron 67.5 g/ha at 25 DAS, W3: Hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS and W4: Weedy check). All herbicide were determined based on treatment plans and sprayed aqueously with a backpack sprayer equipped with a

flat fan nozzle delivering 400 litres of water per hectare. Two days after the crop was sown, pre- emergence herbicide atrazine (1.0 kg/ha) was administered in accordance with the treatments in W1 and W2 and post-emergence herbicide applications were carried out at 25 DAS. Along with that manual weeding was also carried out in the W3 treatment at 25 DAS with the aid of a khurpi. Maize variety Jaunpur local was sown at a spacing of 60 cm between rows and 20 cm between each plant in an inter spacing of 13- year-old bael orchard (with tree-to-tree distance of 7m x 7m). Recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) is 150:75:75 @ NPK kg/ha and nitrogen was applied in three splits, basal dose at the time of sowing, knee high and tasselling stage while full dose of phosphorus and potash were applied as basal dose. Data on weed density (No./m2) and dry weight (g/m2) at 60 DAS were recorded randomly at four spots in each treatment plot using a quadrat of 0.5 m x 0.5 m. In every experimental plot, the crop qualitie parameters and yields were documented by following the established procedures. The cost of cultivation, gross returns, net returns, and benefit–cost ratio for both maize and bael were calculated using the prevailing market rates for inputs and the minimum labor wages as prescribed by the local government. Prior to statistical analysis weed data were subjected to square root transformation √X + 0.5 to normalize their distribution. All the data obtained in the study were statistically analysed using F-test and CD values at P=0.05. Which were used to determine the significance of difference between treatments. Based on total weed dry weight, weed control efficiency (WCE) was computed by using the formulae.

Weed control efficiency = WDMc – WDMt / WDMc × 100

Where, WDMc = Weed dry weight (g/m2) in control plot

WDMt = Weed dry weight (g/m2) in treated

plot

Weed index (WI) are expressed in percentage and was

computed by using the formulae.

Weed index = X – Y / X × 100

Where X = Yield from minimum weed competition plot

Y = Yield from the treatment plot

The gross returns were calculated on the basis of the local market price (Minimum support price, 2023).

Net return = Gross return - Cost of cultivation

Gross returns Cost of Ciltivation

efficiency was found in W3: Hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS followed by W1: Atrazine 1.0 kg/ha PE fb topramezone 25.2 g/ha at 25 DAS and W2: Atrazine 1.0 kg/ha PE fb halosulfuron 67.5 g/ha at 25 DAS (Table 3). Weed index is directly proportional to crop yield loss. Here the weed index (Table 3) with the application of establishment was recorded higher in M1: Conventional method in comparison to M2: Ridge and furrow method. Also, the weed index was higher in W4: Weedy check (67.24) which caused greater yield loss due to uncontrolled weed growth. Among the herbicidal application the W2: Atrazine 1.0 kg/ha PE fb halosulfuron 67.5 g/ha at 25 DAS recorded higher weed index then W1: Atrazine 1.0 kg/ha PE fb topramezone 25.2 g/ha at 25 DAS. Lowest weed index was observed with W3: Hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS. This might be due to the greater weed killing efficiency of the post emergence herbicide topramezone and early weed suppression with the application of atrazine. These results corroborate the findings of Hargilas (2020), Lavanya et al. (2021) and Sanodiya et al. (2013).

The utilization of ridge and furrow establishment method along with pre-emergence application of atrazine @ 1.0 kg/ha followed by post emergence application of topramezone 25.2 g/ha was found give superior yield attributes, crop yield, economics and overall better weed control from major weed during kharif season. Thus, adopting these treatments could prove to be viable and productive in a setting with of maize and bael in an agri-horti system

The authors are grateful to the Department of Agronomy, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, for providing all the facilities required to carry out the study. They also wish to thank various government departments and farmers for providing help and support.