EFFICACY AND ECONOMICS OF MIXING DIFFERENT HERBICIDES FOR CONTROLLING BROAD AND NARROW LEAVED WEEDS IN WHEAT

A study was conducted at Adaptive Research Farm, Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan during 2009-10 to see the efficacy of mixing different herbicides for controlling broad and narrow leaved weeds in wheat. The herbicides included were Isoproturan + Carfentazine (Affinity 50% w/w) (2000 g/ha), Isoproturan 50% w/w (2000 g/ha), Isoproturan 50% w/w (2000 g/ha) + Buctril Super 60EC (750 ml/ha), Isoproturan 50% w/w (2000 g/ha)+Buctril Super 60EC (500 ml/ha), Isoproturan 50% w/w (2000 g/ha)+Buctril Super 60EC (375 ml/ha), Isoproturan 50% w/w (1500 g/ha)+Buctril Super 60EC (750 ml/ha), Isoproturan 50% w/w (1500 gm/ha) + Buctril Super 60EC (500 ml/ha), Isoproturan 50% w/w (1500 gm/ha) + Buctril Super 60EC (375 ml/ha), Isoproturan 50% w/w (1000 g/ha) + Buctril Super 60 EC (625 ml/ha) and weedy check. Average of three years results revealed that all mixed doses of broad and narrow leaved herbicides significantly decreased the population of broad and narrow leaved weeds compared with weedy check. Isoproturan 50% w/w (2000 g/ha) + Buctril Super 60 EC (750 ml/ha) and Isoproturan 50% w/w (2000 g/ha) + Buctril Super 60 EC (500 ml/ha) proved as the most effective in controlling Phalaris minor and Chenopodium album population with maximum average mortality of 85.5 and 83.5 percent, respectively without being phytotoxic to wheat. Relatively lower weed mortality was observed in other mixed doses over control (untreated). Maximum plant height (93.92 cm), fertile tillers (353.6/m) and 1000-grain weight (41.0 g) and grain yield (3300 kg/ha) were maximum in Isoproturan 50% w/w (2000 g/ha) + Buctril Super 60EC (750 ml/ha), Isoproturan 50% w/w (2000 gm/ha) + Buctril Super 60 EC (500 ml/ha) treated plots also enhanced yield significantly over control. It is recommended that mixed doses of Isoproturan 50% w/w (2000 g/ha) + Buctril Super 60 EC (750 ml/ha) and Isoproturan 50% w/w (2000 g/ha) + Buctril Super 60 EC (500 ml/ha) may be applied against broad and narrow leaved weeds after 1 irrigation in moist soil to maximize wheat grain yield per unit area.