Abstract:
Weed pressure, one of the biotic stresses, drastically lowers agricultural productivity and endangers the viability of farms. Global usage of herbicides for agricultural production has increased to meet the rising demand for food caused by population growth. Biodiversity being the interaction between various life forms and habitats can be altered by growing hybrids in a mixture. Increased inter-field biodiversity attained by hybrid mixture can aid in the management of weeds by altering the microclimate. Hence the present study was planned to manage weeds in maize hybrid mixture with reduced herbicide doses. The study was carried out at University of Agriculture, Faisalabad with three replications and the treatments were arranged in split-plot arrangement under a randomized complete block design. Two hybrid YS-5427 and DK-6714, short- and tallstatured, respectively were selected for the study. There were three levels of main plot factor in which both hybrids were sown alone and in alternate rows (mixture). Incremental herbicide dose (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% of label dose) of mesotrione + atrazine was sub-factor. A decrease of 63% in weed biomass was recorded at 50% recommended herbicide dose for short-statured hybrid, while it was 67% and 69% for tall-statured and mixture, respectively. Grain yield of mixture at full herbicide rate application was 11400 kg ha-1, while short- and tall-statured showed grain yield of 11010 and 11130 kg ha-1. However, mixture was able to achieve comparable yield at 75% of the recommended dose. Careful selection of hybrids for growing in mixture that is strong competitor with high yield and less dependent on herbicides will help to achieve both environmental and economic goals in weed control and crop production.
Page(s):
52-52
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: Abstract Book on Second International Conference on Recent Approaches in Plant Sciences (RAPS-23) 4-5 May 2023 , Volume: 0, Issue: 0, Year: 2023