EFFECT OF SOME PRE-EMERGENCE HERBICIDES ON WEED INFESTATION AND VARIETIES OF GROUNDNUT (Arachis hypogea L.) IN SUDAN SAVANNA OF NIGERIA

The relatively slow initial vegetative growth of groundnut and the long time taken for canopy close-up enhances the susceptibility of the crop to early season and protracted weed infestation which can lead to considerable loss of potential yield of the crop. The experiments were conducted at Kano University of Science and Technology practical and research farm Gaya during 2016 and 2017 rainy season, to evaluate the response of improved and local ground nut varieties (SAMNUT-24 and Kampala) to two pre-emergence herbicides Pendimethalin and Butachlor that were applied at two rates each (1.5 and 2 kg a.i. ha -1 ) and weedy check were included to serve as control. These give a total of 10 treatments combination that were laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design and replicated three times. Data were taken on growth, weed and yield parameters. Summed frequency of weed species present at the experimental sites indicates the prevalence of Cynodon dactylon (18.2%), Mitracarpus villosus (15.3%) and Pennisetum purperium (12.4%).  The result indicated the application of pendimethalin at 1.5 kg a.i.ha -1 or Butachlor at 2.0 kg a.i.ha -1 produced significantly higher pod and Stover yield as exemplified in superior growth observed in vine length, number of leaves and leaf area on SAMNUT-24 in the study area.