WEED MANAGEMENT IN MAIZE (Zea mays L.) THROUGH DIFFERENT CONTROL STRATEGIES

Field trial was initiated at Agriculture University New Developmental Farm, Agriculture University Peshawar-Pakistan during Kharif 2012 to study the weed management in maize through different control techniques. The experimental design was Randomized Complete Block (RCB) with three replications. The size of each individual plot was 5 x 3 m^2. Azam variety at seed rate 28kg ha^-1 was sown in the field with recommended rate nitrogen and phosphorus. The data were recorded on density of weed (m^-2) before treatments application, density of weed (m^-2) after treatments application, dry weed biomass (g), fresh weed biomass (g), maize plant height, number of cobs per plant, grains per cob, thousand grain weight, biological and grain yield (t ha^-1). Results showed that lowest weed density (38.3 m^-2) was recorded in black plastic mulch treatment. The highest plant height (199.0 cm) was observed in hand weeding twice treatment followed by Dual gold 960 EC and stomp 330 E treated units (196.0 cm each). The hand weeding twice produced highest grain yield (7.035 kg ha^-1) which were statistical similar with Dual gold 960 EC (6.891kg ha^-1), black plastic mulch (6.585 kg ha^-1), hand weeding once (6.436 kg ha^-1) and Stomp (5.966 kg ha^-1); while, weedy check showed lowest grain yield of 3.892 kg ha^-1. It can be concluded that mulching was superior over all other methods for controlling weed and maize crop performance over all other method. The findings may be applicable to other crops—that needs further research.