Chemical Control of Phalaris minor and Avena ludoviciana in Wheat

Abstract

In field experiments conducted at the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana during 1973–74 and 1974–75, pre-emergence application (one day after sowing) of methabenzthiazuron (1.05 kg a.i./ha), metoxuron (1.6 kg a.i./ha) and chlortoluron (0.75 kg a.i./ha) gave effective control of Phalaris minor and Avena ludoviciana in wheat without any phytotoxic effect on the crop. Methabenzthiazuron, metoxuron and chlortoluron gave 1410, 1420 and 1090 kg/ha, respectively, more grain than the unweeded crop and 590, 600 and 270 kg/ha more than the crop hand-weeded twice. Nitrofen (1.25 kg a.i./ha) applied pre-emergence was effective against P. minor only and gave substantial increase in grain yield. Terbutryne, dichlormate and linuron, while effective against P. minor, also had a phytotoxic effect on the crop.