Effect of weed control and other agronomic factors on grain yield of wheat at desert irrigated sites of Libya

Abstract EN

Two 25 -factorial trials were conducted at two locations (Sabha, sarir) south of Libya to determine the importance of major agronomic factors including weed control on cereal production in Libya.

the factors studied were: date of sowing (d), seeding rate (s), fertilizers (f), varieties (v) and weed control (w).

each factor was at two levels of application (low, high).

the experiments were designed in split plot with one replication.

there was highly significant main effect of sowing date on grain yield at both locations, and interaction between sowing date and weed control in Sabha.

early sowing date increased grain yield by 2.2 ton/ha at Sabha and by 1.38 ton/ha at sarir.

in Sabha, at early date of sowing, response of grain yield to weed control treatment was very high, while at late date of sowing no differences were observed.

there was significant response of grain yield to weed control in Sabha with no response at sarir due to low weed infestation level in that site.

high fertilizer level affected significantly the grain yield at Sabha without any positive effect at sarir.

weed control should be considered as an integral part of other agronomic factors such as : sowing date, proper seeding rate and fertilizer application.

only when weeds are properly controlled can farmers recognize the economic benefits of packages of improved agronomic factors.