POSSIBILITIES OF REDUCING HERBICIDE DOSES THROUGH NARROWED ROW SPACING AND USE OF ADJUVANT IN MAIZE (Zea mays L.)

Adjuvants have significant role in decreasing the herbicide cost and environmental damage by reducing the herbicides dose. Field experiments were conducted at Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, to assess the possibilities of reducing herbicide dose through narrowed row spacing and use of adjuvants on weeds in maize. The experiment comprised of nicosulfuran + atrazine + propisochlor (pre-mixed formulation) at label dose (740 g a.i ha^-1); 75% (555 g a.i ha^-1) and 50% (370 g a.i ha^-1) alone and in combination with alkyl ether sulphate at 400 ml ha^-1 as adjuvant along with weedy check in maize sown at 60 cm (narrowed rows) and 75cm (recommended) row spacing. The results exhibited that narrow row spacing caused significant reduction in weed biomass and weed density without any negative impact on grain yield of maize. The most effective treatment in controlling weed, reducing the dry matter of weed and increasing maize grain yield were nicosulfuran + atrazine + propisochlor at 555 g a.i. ha^-1 (75% of recommended) with adjuvant and nicosulfuran + atrazine + propisochlor at 740 g a.i ha^-1 (recommended dose). The results revealed that the dose of nicosulfuran + atrazine + propisochlor can be reduced upto 25% by addition of alkyl ether sulphate as adjuvant.