Effect of New Herbicide Molecules on Weed Control Efficiency, Growth and Yield in Hybrid Maize

Author: P. Thukkaiyannan

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Abstract

Weeds are the most important biotic constraints to maize production. Yield losses in maize due to weeds depend on several factors such as weed emergence time, weed density and type of weeds. If the weeds left uncontrolled, it results in 100% yield loss. Since, labour availability to manual weeding and higher wages, it is necessary to have the strategy of chemical control of weeds in appropriate time to attain target yield and economic benefit. In this view, field experiments were conducted at Maize Research Station, Vagarai, Tamilnadu (India) during the season kharif of the years 2015, 2016 and 2017 under irrigated eco system in maize hybrid (TNMH-Co 6) to develop weed management options with new herbicide molecules. The experiments were laid out in RBD and replicated thrice. The weed management options viz., pre and post emergence herbicide applications in different doses and time with conventional hand weeding. The trials were also compared with Weedy check (control) and Weed free ch

Keywords

Maize, herbicide, weed management, weed population, weed dry matter, weed control efficiency, grain yield.

Conclusion

Maize is an important cereal crop of India grown in both kharif and rabi season. This crop has a very high yield potential, particularly the hybrids which may produce as high as 6 t/ha during kharif and more than 10t/ha during rabi season but the average yield (2.5 t/ha) is considered to be very low due to various constraints. Wide row spacing in maize coupled with favourable environment allows luxuriant weed growth which may reduce the yield by 30-90%. In addition, maize is generally raised under marginal conditions with meager inputs which make it poor competitor. Timely weed control in maize has become the essential for realizing its potential yield. Weed control through use of herbicides (chemical) assumed a greater significance/importance due to their accessibility, selective and quick action after the discovery of 2, 4- D in 1935 for broad leaved weeds. But over reliance on herbicide use sometimes may cause residual toxicity to succeeding crops and ground water contamination. Mas

References

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How to cite this article

Thukkaiyannan, P. (2021). Effect of New Herbicide Molecules on Weed Control Efficiency, Growth and Yield in Hybrid Maize. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 13(3): 282-287.