Evaluation of Alternative Pre-emergence Herbicides to Atrazine for Weed Control on Maize (Zea maysL.) plot in Ogbomoso, Southwest Nigeria
Publication Date: 04/12/2021
Author(s): Olabode O.S., Oladapo O.S., Ogunsola A., Sangodele A.O..
Volume/Issue: Volume 4 , Issue 4 (2021)
Abstract:
Field experiments were carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm of the LadokeAkintola University of Technology, (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso to evaluate the effectiveness and determine the optimum rate of applying alternative herbicides to atrazine on maize plots in view of the current criticism against the herbicide. Five herbicides, namely; 3-maize force, Xtra force, Pre-maize Guard force (solution and pellet) at two rates (100% and 50% recommended rates) were compared with atrazine at full dose and 3 hoe-weeding in a Randomized complete Block Experiment with 3 replications. Maize, Variety OBA Super, maturing in 75 days, was planted at two plants per stand at a spacing of 75 x 50cm in two-year trials and maintained following the standard procedures. The herbicides were applied using a knapsack sprayer calibrated to deliver at 200liters/ha. Results showed that there were no significant differences (p=0.05) among the treatment and between the treatments and control with respect to seed germination, plant survival and other growth parameters. The highest grain yield (6757.3kg/ha) obtained with atrazine was not significantly different from those of other treatments and control. The effectiveness of the herbicides, measured using weed density and biomass, showed comparable effectiveness across the herbicides and atrazine. Furthermore, at a dosage of 50%, the herbicide’s effectiveness was highly comparable to those of atrazine at 100%. The implications of these findings were discussed.
Keywords:
Atrazine, 3-maize force, Xtra force, Premaiz and Guard force.
