COMPARISON OF DIFFERENT HERBICIDAL APPLICATION METHODS FOR WEED CONTROL IN WHEAT.

A study was conducted at Adaptive Research Farm, Gujranwala, Pakistan during Rabi, 2004-05 to 2006-07 to determine the most effective method of herbicidal application for weed control in wheat. Three herbicides i.e. Affinity (isoproturon + carfentrazone) @ 2.00 kg Sencor (metribuzin) @ 0.250 kg and Proton (isoproturon) @ 2.00 kg per hectare mixed with urea and broadcast just after first irrigation. These herbicides were also sprayed in moist field after first irrigation. All herbicides and methods of application reduced weed density and biomass significantly over weedy check. However, Affinity, Sencor and Proton when mixed with urea fertilizer and broadcast just after first irrigation showed significant reduction of grassy weeds i.e. 97.18, 96.15 and 95.25 percent, respectively. However, spray of these weedicides gave good control of broad leaved weeds. Number of tillers, grain weight, grains per spike and grain yield were significantly higher in treated plots as compared to untreated ones. Significantly higher grain yield was obtained by broadcasting of Affinity (4.53 t/ha), Sencor (4.44 t) and Proton (4.37 t) after mixing with urea just after first irrigation with net return of Rs. 19358, 19274 and 17798 per hectare, respectively. Broadcasting of these herbicides in combination with urea proved to be an efficient and more economical method than spray application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]