Effect of Weed Control on Yield and Yield Components of Some Canola Varieties (Brassica napus L.)

2 Abstract: Two field experiments were carried out at the Agricultural Experimental Station of the National Research Center at Shalakan, Qalubeia Governorate Egypt during the two successive winter seasons 2005/2006 and 2006/2007 to study the effect of weed control treatments ( unweeded, one-hand hoeing, two-hand hoeing and pendimethalin (stomp) at a rate of 1.7 L/fed. as pre-emergence) on weed control, yield and its components of three "canola" varieties (Serw-4, Serw-6 and Pactol). Serw-4 variety gave the lowest total fresh and dry weight of associated weeds/m at 45 and 60 days after planting compared to the other two varieties in both seasons. 2 Two-hand hoeing at 21 and 35 days after planting decreased total fresh and dry weight of associated weeds and increased fresh and dry weight of canola plants at 45 and 60 days after planting. Also, it recorded an increasing in yield and its attributes in both seasons compared to other weed control treatments. Serw-4 cv., surpassed significantly in seed and biological yields (kg/fed.) as well as, number of seeds/pod, number of pods/plant, seeds/ plant (g) and oil (%) except 1000-seed weight compared to Serw-6 and Pactol varieties. The interaction between canola varieties and weed control treatments was significant. The most successful treatment applying was Serw-4 cv. with two-hand hoeing, followed by the same variety with pendimethalin (stomp) at a rate of 1.7 L./fed., as pre-emergence, of all studied characters in both seasons.