Efficiency of Some Selective Herbicides in Canola (Brassica napus L.) Cultivation and Their Interaction with Biofarm Biological Fertilizer

Abstract

To evaluate the effect of herbicides and biofarm (Pseudomonas spp.) as biological fertilizer on weeds and yield components of canola, a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted at Agricultural Research Center of East Azarbaijan in 2009. The treatment factors consisted of herbicide (factor A) at 4 levels (application of trifloralin, Treflan, at 2.5 l/ha as pre-planting, chlopyralid, Lontrel, at 0.8 l/ha when canola plants were at 2-4 leaf stage, metazachlor+quinmerac, Butizan star, at 2.5 l/ha at cotyledonous stage of canola, and not controlling the weeds as check. Biological fertilizer (factor B) at 2 levels, using or not using the biofarm. Wild mustard (Sinapis arvvensis) and tansy mustard (Descurainia sophia), being in same family with canola, were the dominant weeds in the field. Traits like number of species and biomass of weeds, biomass and yield of the crop were recorded to evaluate the effects of the treatments. The statistical analysis indicated that Botizan star and Treflan, compared with control, significantly reduced the number and biomass of wild mustard. In spite of non significant effect of the herbicide on number of tansy mustard and total weed, Botizan star and Treflan significantly reduced their biomasses. Application of biofarm and its interaction with herbicides did not influence the evaluated traits significantly. The herbicides, also, did not have significant effect on biomass and yield of the crop