Herbicidal efficacy of atrazine for weed control in maize (Zea mays l.)‎

Abstract EN

A field trial was conducted at Gezira Research Station Farm, duringseasons 2010/2011 and 2011 / 2012, to evaluate activity and selectivity of the pre-emergence herbicide atrazine (Oxatryne 500SC) for weed control in maize.

The herbicide was tested at 0.357, 0.476, 0.595 and 0.714 kg a.i ha-1.

The most prevailing weed species were False amaranth {(Digera muricata (L.) Mart}., Blue morning glory (Ipomoea spp.), Cattail grass (Seteria pallidefusca) and Ocimum basilicum .

The herbicide displayed very good to excellent control of broadleaved weeds (73- 98 %) .

However, its activity against grassy weeds was poor to moderate (4- 56% control).

All herbicide treatments were highly selective to the crop.Yield reductions as a result of unrestricted weed growth were 81 and 74 %, in the first and second seasons, respectively.

In both seasons, the herbicide at all rates tested, irrespective of supplementary hand weeding increased maize yield significantly compared to the untreated control.