EFFICACY OF DIFFERENT HERBICIDES AGAINST WEEDS IN MAIZE (Zea mays L.)

A field experiment was conducted at Maize and Millets Research Institute Yusafwala, Sahiwal during Kharif season 2010 to evaluate the efficacy of some herbicides for controlling weeds and their effectiveness on yield and yield components of maize. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block (RCB) design having three replications. In current study, different herbicides were compared for their efficacy to control various weed species. The data was recorded on weeds mortality percentage, germination percentage, plant height (cm), days to 50% silking, ear height (cm), number of grains per ear, 1000 grain weight (g) and grain yield (kg ha-1). All the herbicides reduced weed population considerably over check. The most effective herbicide for broad leave weeds and narrow leaf weeds was Primextra gold 720 SC @ 2000 ml ha-1, while Equip 2.25% OD @ 2000 ml ha-1 was more efficient against sedges. The herbicides significantly affected ear height (cm), number of grains per ear, 1000 grain weight (g) and grain yield (kg ha-1) while other parameters showed non significant differences. Maximum number of grains per ear (298.8), 1000 grain weight (268.8 g) and grain yield (7187 kg ha-1) were recorded in plots treated with Equip 2.25 OD @ 2000 ml ha-1 followed by Primextra gold 720 SC @ 2000 ml ha-1. It is concluded that application of Equip 2.25 OD @ 2000 ml ha-1 and Primextra gold 720 SC @ 2000 ml ha-1 significantly decreased weeds density and increased grain yield among the herbicides applied and hence recommended for obtaining higher grain yield of maize.