The EFFICACY OF DUAL GOLD (S-METOLACHLOR) ON WEED BIOMASS (g m-2) AND ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD COMPONENTS OF SUGAR BEET (BETA VULGARIS L.) CV. CALIFORNIA-KWS

Weed infestation is a major problem and matter of concern as it reduces yield as well as quality of many crops including sugar beet. Manual weeding is very tedious, costly, time consuming and most probably non-availability of trained and skillful labor is another issue. Keeping in view these facts, an experiment was performed to evaluate the efficacy of dual gold on the weed biomass (gm-2) and on the growth and yield components of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) cv. California-KWS during 2013-14 and 2014-15. The study was performed using RCBD having five treatments and three replications. The treatments included different application times (pre-emergence application and application after 15, 30 and 45 days after emergence) of dual gold (s-Metolachlor) and a control (weedy check). Data were recorded on fresh and dry weed biomasses (g m-2), number of leaves plant-1, leaf area plant-1 (cm2), leaf and root weights plant-1 (g), sucrose%, TSS%, root and sugar yields (t ha-1). The results showed significant variation among the treatments for all parameters during both years of study. Among the treatments the dual gold (s-Metolachlor) applied as pre-emergence reduced weed fresh and dry biomasses (g m-2) and also enhanced number of leaves plant-1, leaf area (cm2), leaf and root weight plant-1, sucrose%, TSS%, root and sugar yields (t ha-1) during both years. Hence it is concluded that dual gold (s-Metolachlor) applied as pre-emergence is best for eradicating weeds at early stages of growth and hence improving yield and quality of sugar beet under Dera Ismail Khan Conditions.

Comparative efficacy of different mulching materials to enhance growth and development and to control weed infestation in cotton

The present study was based on the hypothesis that mulching materials can directly control weeds and indirectly crop growth and development by improving soil fertility. The present study was conducted to evaluate the “Comparative efficacy of different mulching materials to enhance growth and development and to control weed infestation in cotton” at Student’s Experimental Farm, Department of Agronomy, Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam, during Kharif season, 2016, in a three, replicated randomized complete block design (RCBD). The net plot size was 4m x 3m (12m-2). There were three cotton varieties (Haridost, Shahbaz, and Sind-1), three mulching materials (wheat straw, sunflower, and banana leaves, each applied at 12 t ha-1), and a control without any mulching treatment. The study revealed that the maximum sympodial branches plant-1 (27.93), opened bolls plant-1 (47.53), the weight of seed cotton plant-1 (124.55 g), seed index (8.73 g), seed cotton yield (5394.4 kg ha-1), staple length (30.33 mm), ginning out-turn percentage (37.96%) and oil contents (22.45%) were recorded in Sindh-1 with banana leaves as mulching material. The same treatment caused the maximum leaf area (136.56 cm-2), and leaf area index (4.92 cm) in Haridost. The minimum weed density (55.00 m-2), weed fresh (293.6 g m-2) and dry biomass (122.52 g m-2) with maximum weed control (81%) was recorded with banana leaves as mulching material in Sindh-1. It can be concluded that mulching with banana leaves at 12 t ha-1 significantly reduced the weeds infestation, resulting in enhanced growth, yield, and physiological parameters of cotton crop..

Mulching with almond hull and olive leaves for weed control in fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) and flower beds

Weeds are a major problem in cropping systems and in urban areas. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of organic mulching with olive leaves and almond hulls to control weeds in fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) and in flower beds (urban areas). A 3-cm thick layer of olive leaves or almond hulls was applied as mulching material in fennel. Control consisted of both an unmulched treatment and a weed free control. Moreover, in a flower bed of a railway station, plots mulched with 3 cm layer of olive leaves and almond hulls were compared with an unmulched treatment. Weed infestation was evaluated and the weights of the whole plant and of the marketable part of fennel (grumolo) measured. Mulching with olive leaves and almond hulls reduced weed infestation in both vegetable crop and flower beds. However, olive leaves reduced the weights of the whole plant and of the grumolo. The adoption of almond hulls and olive leaves as organic mulches could be an effective strategy for weed control. Further investigations should be carried out to assess whether the effectiveness of these mulching materials is mainly due to a mechanical activity or allelopathic compounds also play a significant role in weed suppression

Direct Seeded Rice and its Prospects in Nepal: A Review

Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) is an alternative cultivation technique to the conventional Transplanted Rice (TPR). In this method, seeds are directly sown to the field without the necessity of nursery raising and transplanting. DSR can generally be divided into dry-DSR (sowing dry seeds in dry soil), wet-DSR (sowing pre-germinated seeds in moist soil) and water-seeding (sowing dry or pre-germinated seeds in standing water). This helps in saving water alongside the labour and results in early harvest due to quick crop establishment. DSR is proved to be sustainable and eco-friendly since it emits less methane than in TPR. However, there are few constraints associated with DSR such as weed infestation, crop lodging and nutrient loss. If these major issues are fixed, DSR can result in greater economic returns as compared to TPR. In absence of puddling, the soil structure can be maintained which leads to greater yields of succeeding crops. This technique has been successfully practiced in many countries like Srilanka, Malaysia and USA. In developing nations like Nepal, irrigation and labour constraints can be tackled by adopting direct-seeding for rice cultivation.

Taxonomic diversity of weed flora in pulse crops growing field at south-western part of Bangladesh

Pulses are important field crops in Bangladesh and weed infestation in pulses field is a great concern now a days. So, a rigorous field survey was conducted throughout the pulses growing season at pulses grower farmers’ field of south-western part of Bangladesh to know the present status of weed infestation in pulses field. During the survey, fresh samples were collected along with other related information e.g., habitat, location, collection date, flowering time, crop/plant association. Fresh samples were dried well for making herbarium specimens. A sum of 13 weed species under 12 genera and 08 families were collected and documented their uses in various ailments. Among the families, Amaranthaceae is the highest-represented family with 03 species. Among the genera, the largest genera Amaranthus represented by 2 species. Cyperous rotundus, Cynodon dactylon, Chenopodium album, Amaranthus spinosus, Croton bonplandianum, Coccinia grandis are the common and major weed species in pulse crop growing field in south-western part of Bangladesh. The knowledge generated from the present research would be helpful for the management practices of pulse crop associated weeds as well as for getting high economic benefits from beneficial species.

Environmental and Socio-Economic Impacts of Kariba Weed Infestation of Lakes Kyoga and Kwania, Uganda

The objective of this study was to quantify the coverage of Kariba weed (Salvinia molesta) on lakes Kyoga and Kwania and document the environmental and socio-economic impacts associated with its infestation. Data on weed infestation status was collected in 2017 and compared with pre-infestation period of 2013. Weed infestations were approximately 15,643 and 13,688 ha on lakes Kyoga and Kwania respectively. The infestation impaired fishing activities, water quality, water abstraction and water transport. They also led to 20.4, 60.1, 7.7, 17.6 and 5.7 kg reduction in catches per day for Tilapia, Mukene, Catfish, Nile perch and Mudfish respectively. The infestations were also associated with a general increase in the prices of the fish. Individual fishermen registered losses in fish revenue. Household spent approximately UGX 108,523 annually as treatment costs for diseases associated with weed infestation. While 32% of the respondents tried to manually control the waterweed at approximately UGX 83,988/year, the mobile nature of the weed rendered these efforts unsuccessful. A strategy to sustainably control the waterweed using specific bio-control agents (Cyrtobagous salviniae) is recommended.

Weed infestation monitoring in vineyards in the South Sakar region of Bulgaria

The weed infestation monitoring was conducted in 2019 and 2020. The purpose was to document the weed flora in a large part of the wine vineyard plots in the cadastral area of the Kolarovo, Ovcharovo, Dositeevo, Balgarin and Izvorovo villages within the administrative territory of the Harmanli municipality and the micro-climatic region of South Sakar. The established weed species composition was represented by 38 weed species belonging to 18 botanical families in ratio 81.58% to 18.42% monocarpous to polycarpous species classified in a total of nine biological groups.