Comparative Efficacy of Terbutryne and 2,4-D based Herbicides for Weed Control in Wheat

Results of field experiments, with sodium, amine and ester formulations of 2,4-D, terbutryne, hand weeding and unweeded controls, with and without post sowing planking, showed that terbutryne applied post-emergence almost completely eliminated weed competition from wheat on a clay loam soil notorious for weed growth, and gave a significantly higher grain yield when compared with the standard 2,4-D treatments. As a result of terbutryne applied post-emergence mean increases in grain yield over the unweeded control, 2,4-D sodium, 2,4-D amine, 2,4-D ester and hand weeding were 14.53, 6.94, 9.54, 7.26 and 8.77 quintals (q)/ha; 41.70, 16.30 23.90, 17.20 and 29.06% respectively. Weed dry matter was reduced by 18.57, 6.26, 6.36, 6.31 and 5.87 q/ha respectively. Terbutryne also reduced difficult to control weeds like Phalaris minor and Avena fatua. The use of terbutryne was shown to be economically sound. Post sowing planking seemed to reduce seedling emergence, increase weed dry matter and slightly reduc...