TITLE:
Chemical Control of Monocot Weeds in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
AUTHORS:
Zia Mehmood, Muhammad Ashiq, Ijaz Rasool Noorka, Amjed Ali, Saba Tabasum, Muhammad Shahid Iqbal
KEYWORDS:
Screening; Herbicides; Contributing Traits; Infestation; Yield
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.5 No.9,
April
11,
2014
ABSTRACT: Due to similar
growth pattern and morphology, monocot weeds offer more severe competition with
wheat. A field experiment was conducted to screen herbicides most suitable for
the control of monocot weeds in wheat. Seven herbicides viz., Puma super 69EW @ 862.5 g a.i. ha-1,
Bristle 69 EW @ 1250 ml, Topik 15WP @ 37.05 g a.i. ha-1,
Safener15WP @ 247g, Certain 80WD @ 395.2 g and Tremor 24EC @ 247 ml/ha were used.
Weedy check where no weed control was practiced was kept as control. All
herbicides were sprayed as post-emergence with second irrigation 38 days after
crop sowing. The best weed control was accomplished by Safener 15WP 247 g ha-1 as significantly lower weed counts per m2 (11.0) and higher percent
weed control (73.4%) were noted after 21 days of its spray. Wheat growth
parameters like plant height, number of tillers per m2, spike length and number
of spikelets per spike remained statistically at par among various treatments.
Significantly higher number of grains per spike (55.67) and 1000 grain weight
(36 g) were noted with Puma Super 69EW @ 1250 ml ha-1 and Certain
80WD 395.2 g ha-1, respectively. Although treatments did not differ
significantly with respect to wheat grain and biological yields, yet the
highest grain yield (3708.3 kg ha-1) and biological yield (10208.3
kg ha-1) were produced by Puma Super 69EW @ 1250 ml ha-1.
Based on better weed control and wheat yield, Safener 15WP @ 395.2 ml ha-1 and Puma Super 69EW @ 1250 ml ha-1 were proved to be better in areas
where wheat fields are predominantly infested by monocot weeds. Puma super, Bristle Tremore, Safener and Certain were found effective against Avena fatua and Polypogon monspelliensis,
less effective against Phalaris
minor and ineffective against Poaannua grass.