TITLE:
Evaluation of New Formulation of Oxyfluorfen (23.5% EC) for Weed Control Efficacy and Bulb Yield in Onion
AUTHORS:
Sathya Priya Ramalingam, Chinnusamy Chinnagounder, Manickasundaram Perumal, Murali Arthanari Palanisamy
KEYWORDS:
Weed Density; Dry Weight; Weed Control Efficiency; Weed Index; Bulb Yield
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.4 No.4,
April
23,
2013
ABSTRACT: A field experiment were conducted for two years at
Agricultural Research Station, Bhavanisagar of Tamil Nadu Agricultural
University, during kharif season of
2009 and 2010 to evaluate the new formulation of oxyfluorfen (23.5% EC) on weed
control in onion. Weeds constitute one of the biggest problems in agriculture
that not only reduce the yield and quality of onion but also utilize essential
nutrients. Hence, weed control is essential for increasing onion production.
Based on two years field experimentation, it was found that pre-emergence application
of oxyfluorfen (23.5% EC) at400 g.ha-1 gave significantly
lower total weed density, weed dry weight and higher weed control efficiency at
all the intervals. Application of new formulation of oxyfluorfen (23.5% EC) at200 g.ha-1 as pre-emergence
herbicide can keep the weed density and dry weight below the economic threshold
level and increase the bulb weight (42.56 and43.87 g) and yield (15940 and15610 kg.ha-1) in onion. Unweeded
control accounted for lower bulb yield which inturn reflected through higher
weed index of 60.6 and 56.1 per cent, respectively during both the years, due
to heavy competition of weeds for nutrients, space and light.