Response of Poaceous Weeds in Wheat to Post-Emergence Herbicides

Poaceous weeds are prolific and competitive in winter crops, but they are more insidious in wheat due to their similar morphology and growing requirements. Herbicides are effective and efficient tools of weed management, however, they are vulnerable to resistance, and herbicides with different modes of action might check the dominance of a particular weed flora. The current study was undertaken to see the response of three poaceous weeds viz., Phalaris minor, Avena fatua and Lolium temulentum, to herbicides Isoproturon, Topik (Clodinafop-p) and Puma Super (Fenoxaprop-p). Completely randomized design with two factor treatments (weeds, herbicides) and eight replications was employed. Data were recorded on chlorotic and necrotic effects of herbicides on weeds, and percent mortality at the time interval of 14, 21 and 28 days after the application of herbicides. Dry biomass weight of weeds was recorded at 30 days after the treatments. Results indicated that all the parameters were affected significantly over the period of time. Maximum counts of chlorotic (2.16) and necrotic (2.97) weeds were observed at the 21st day of treatment. The highest mortality (31.1 %) was recorded at 21st day after the application of herbicides. Phalaris minor was the most resistant weed to herbicides showing the lowest mortality (only 17.7 %) compared to other two weeds. Maximum dry weight of weeds was recorded in control while a minimum of 0.456 g dry weight was observed where Topik (Clodinafop-p) was applied. For the effective control of P. minor, A. fatua and L. temulentum weeds in wheat crop, Topik (15 WP) @ 0.37 kg a.i. ha-1 was proved to be the most suitable herbicide applied at 3-4 foliar stage

Differential response of Zea mays L. in relation to weed control and different macronutrient combinations

Time of weed control and fertilizer application usually decide the profitability of crop production. The effects of weed control and macronutrients on maize crop were investigated. The study was undertaken in March 2009, using a RCBD design with split plot arrangements. The experimental set up was established at the Agricultural University Peshawar and seedbeds were prepared with the proper moisture regime. Maize was planted with one plot left weed free for first six weeks while another infested with weed. The combinations of macronutrients used were nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, nitrogen-phosphorus, nitrogen-potassium, phosphorus-potassium and nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium. Control (no fertilizer) was included for comparison. The observations revealed that when a comparison was made between the application of fertilizers and weed control, the latter proved more important because weed infested plots had no harvestable maize plants. The role of main nutrients in crop production is well known and cannot be left aside, however weed infestation does not provide us a fair choice of fertilizers application. The maximum maize grain yield was recorded under nitrogen-phosphorus combination and promising results were obtained. The weeds and maize benefited equally in terms of fresh and dry weed biomass with an application of fertilizer in particular N singly or together with P. In view of this, application of fertilizer should be changed from broadcast to band and/or placement. In general, a positive interaction was seen between N and P promoting the growth of maize and weeds. It can be said that herbicide application for weed control is important because of the fact that hand weeding is not economical, difficult, time consuming because of perennial weeds and hot weather conditions in the month of June

Nutrient removal, performance of growth and yield of faba bean (Vicia faba L.)

A study on 12 faba bean genotypes was conducted for 2 years to evaluate its growth, nutrient removal, yield and yield components. The genotypes were KITIKI-2003, ERESEN-87, FİLİZ-99, SEVİL, SAKIZ, 95 ETA 225, 95 ETA 249, 95 ETA 276, 97 ETA 718, 97 ETA 727, 98 ETA 296 and 98 ETA 329. In each year mostly significant differences were observed among genotypes for growth, nutrients removal, yield and yield components. In the study on the average of two years across the 12 faba bean genotypes 301 kg ha-1 nitrogen, 30.0 kg ha-1 phosphorus, 206.9 kg ha-1 potassium, 138.5 kg ha-1 calcium and 23.9 kg ha-1 magnesium were uptaken in response to 11944 kg ha-1 plant dry matter production. In addition to the nutrient study on the average 101.9 cm plant height, 3.49 LAI, 864.4 kg ha-1 root dry matter and 11944 kg ha-1 plant dry matter were observed in the experiment. Furthermore, 7.84 pods plant-1, 2.35 grains pod-1, 1557.1 1000-grain weight and 4585 kg ha-1 grain yield were recorded. These findings can be used for fertilizer management of faba bean, sustainable faba bean production and as a reference

Effect of different levels of nitrogen on dry matter and grain yield of faba bean (Vicia Faba L.)

Faba bean is widely used in the Mediterranean region as source of protein in both human and animal nutrition. A legume member so fixes atmospheric nitrogen but with the assumption that nitrogen application to crops often results in yield improvement, a field experiment with N rates was conducted for two consecutive years. In the experiment 12 faba bean genotypes (KITIKI-2003, ERESEN-87, FİLİZ-99, SEVİL, SAKIZ, 95 ETA 225, 95 ETA 249, 95 ETA 276, 97 ETA 718, 97 ETA 727, 98 ETA 296 and 98 ETA 329) at 5 N rates (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 kg ha-1) were evaluated for dry matter production and grain yield. Genotypes showed significant variation in grain yield and shoot dry weight. Genotype FİL·Z-99 was the highest yielding, whereas genotype SEVİL was the lowest yielding and the remaining genotypes were intermediate in grain yielding potential. Grain yield and shoot dry weight indicated significant quadratic relation with the increasing N rates between 0 and 200 kg ha