Effect of Pre and Post-Emergency Herbicides with Combined Hand Weeding Frequencies on Weed Density and Yield Components of Maize (Zea Mays L.) in Bako and Ilu Gelan Districts, Western Ethiopia

Maize is one of the most popular staple food crops widely produced by smallholder farmers and private investors in Ethiopia. Production and productivity are affected by biotic factors like weed competition, disease, and insect pests. Weed infestation is of such supreme importance that it is responsible for the low maize grain yield. However, farmers did not combine effective herbicides with proper hand weeding frequencies to manage weeds around the study area. Thus, an experiment was designed to identify and recommend effective and sustainable weed management practices and maximize the yield of maize. Hence, the study was conducted in Bako on the research station and Ilu Gelan district in ۲۰۲۲ and ۲۰۲۳ during the main cropping season. Both pre-emergency (Premagram Gold ۶۶۰SC) and post-emergency (MESCHA ۳۰۰OD and Staller® Star) herbicides were integrated with hand weeding frequencies (one and two times). Ten treatment combinations were made, including an untreated weedy check (Premagram Gold ۶۶۰SC only, Premagram Gold ۶۶۰SC+۱ times HW, Premagram Gold ۶۶۰SC+۲ times HW, MESCHA ۳۰۰OD only, MESCHA ۳۰۰OD+۱ times HW, MESCHA ۳۰۰OD +۲ times HW, Staller® Star only, Staller® Star ۱ times HW, Staller® Star+۲ times HW, and an untreated weedy check). Broad and narrow-leafed weed groups existed on an experimental plot with different densities. Among applied weed management treatments, MESCHA ۳۰۰OD + ۲ times HW and Premagram Gold ۶۶۰SC + ۲ times HW had better weed control efficiency, were lower in weed densities at ۷۵ DAE, and also had a higher yield and higher net benefit when compared to untreated weedy check and other treatments. Therefore, Premagram Gold ۶۶۰SC + ۲ HW and MESCHA ۳۰۰OD + ۲ HW at ۴۰ and ۶۰ days after emergence (DAE) were recommended as the first and second options, respectively, for the study area because Premagram Gold ۶۶۰SC controlled weed at the early germination period of the maize growth stage.

کلیدواژه ها:

hand weeding frequencies ، Herbicides ، pre- and post-emergency herbicides ، Weed density ، Zea mays L