Chemical weed control in rainfed peanuts

Field studies at Bangalore, India, demonstrated that benfiuralin, fluchloralin and profluralin were effective for the selective control of many weed species in field experiments with peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.‘BH-8-18′). Trifluralin and dinitramine were effective against many weed species but reduced crop stand by about 10%. These two herbicides also reduced the incidence of leaf spot disease (Cercospora arachidicola) and peanut pod yields were similar to clean weeded treatments. Bentazon was ineffective on most weed species and metribuzin was lethal to the crop. Alachlor, nitrofen and chloramben were only partially effective and would require supplemental hand weeding or mechanical tillage to obtain satisfactory weed control.