Effects of rimsulfuron, foramsulfuron and conventional herbicides on weed control and maize yield at three planting dates

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted in 2007 and 2008 in research station of college of agriculture, Shiraz University of Iran, to evaluate the effect of herbicide application and planting dates on yield and yield components of maize and weed control. Treatments were atrazine plus alachlor at 1 + 2.44 and 1.92 + 1.5, 2,4-D + MCPA at 0.36 + 0.31 and 0.54 + 0.46, rimsulfuron at 0.02 and 0.04, foramsulfuron at 0.03 and 0.06 kg a.i. P ha-1, a weed free and a weedy check and three planting dates (5 May, 5 June and 5 July). Results of both years showed that foramsulfuron and atrazine+ alachlor in both applied rates controlled weeds greatly in all planting dates. Combination of 2,4-D + MCPA in both applied rates controlled field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis L.) about 85 to 99% in the 3rd planting date. The minimum weed biomass reduction and lowest maize grain yield was obtained with rimsolforun in both applied rates and 2,4-D + MCPA at 0.36 + 0.31 kg a.i. P ha-1 in the first planting date. Maximum weed biomass reduction and the highest maize grain yield were obtained with foramsulfuron in both applied rates in the 3rd planting date and 2nd planting date, respectively.