Efficacy of New Herbicide Formulation on the Growth and Yield of Maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out at a farmer’s field in the Perambalur District of Tamil Nadu, India, during the kharif season of 2021 to ascertain the effects of various weed management methods on the growth and yield of maize. The study comprised ten treatments (Pre application of Atrazine was fb post emergence application were 2,4-D, Halosulfuron methyl, Tembotrine, Tembotrine+ Atrazine, Mesotrione + Atrazine) and was set up in a Randomized Block Design. Hand weeding on 15 and 30 DAS ranked first and resulted in the lowest weed count on 45 DAS (Grasses – 2.73, Sedges – 3.12, BLW’s – 6.34), weed biomass on 30 and 45 DAS (10.89, 6.09 g), weed index (0 %) and highest weed control efficiency (93.71 %) among all the treatments examined. Among the herbicides sprayed, pre-emergence herbicide atrazine followed by post-emergence herbicide tembotrine had the lowest weed count on 45 DAS (Grasses – 2.90, Sedges – 3.44, BLW’s – 6.68), weed biomass (12.10, 12.55, 6.77 g m2), weed index (0.29%) and highest weed control efficiency (93.28%) and resulted in tallest height (204.12 cm), leaf area index (6.04), dry matter production (8.92 t ha-1), cob length (22.4 cm), grain yield (4.47 t ha-1) and stover production (5.71 t ha-1).