WEED CONTROL IN LEGUMES WITH REDUCED DOSES OF LINURON AND CLOMAZONE

Background. In the search for more environmentally friendly and effective weed control methods in legumes, the possibility of in-soil herbicide application at lowered doses ought to be considered.Material and methods. In field experiments carried out in the years 2014-2015, the effect of the application of an in-soil herbicide mixture containing linuron and clomazone was studied  at various doses on the weed infestation and yield of pea and soybean.Results. Application of the herbicides Dispersive Afalon 450 SC (linuron) + Command 480 EC (clomazone) at full and reduced doses, by 25% and 50%, decreased weed number and mass as well as weed biodiversity in comparison with the control. The applications also increased pea and soybean yields. In the experiment, no harmful phytotoxic effects were found from the applied herbicide doses containing linuron and clomazone on the emerging plants of pea and soybean.Conclusion. Limiting the negative effects of in-soil herbicides containing linuron and clomazone on the environment may be achieved through their application at reduced doses. Application of the reduced doses of linuron and clomazone is more  suitable for pea than for soybean.