Efficacy of some Herbicides and Agricultural Practices on the Productivity of Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris L.)

Abstract

Two field experiments were conducted on sugar beet crop (Beta vulgaris) to increase the quality of yield in sugar beet by applying mixtures of pre- and post-emergence herbicides and non-chemical strategies. Triflusulfuron-methyl, phenemedipham7.5+ desmedipham 1.5+ ethofumesate 11.5, S-metolachlor, propaquizafop, and clethodim, in addition, Triflusulfuron-methyl +hand hoeing, phenmedipham 7.5+ desmedipham 1.5+ ethofumesate 11.5 +hand hoeing, first hand hoeing, second hand hoeing and untreated check were evaluated. All combinations were repeated twice. Percentage of weed reduction, total of all weeds, yield, yield components, percentages of total soluble solids (TSS), total yield of sugar beet ton per feddan and the percentages of weed density were calculated. Results revealed that, triflusulfuron-methyl + hand hoeing followed by phenmedipham7.5+ desmedipham 1.5+ ethofumesate 11.5+ hand hoeing and twice hand hoeing recorded equally the same effect followed by triflusulfuron-methyl followed by first hand hoeing when compared with untreated check. The reduction (weed control) percentages were 98, 96, 96, 84 and 81, respectively compared with untreated (check) in the first season. However, in the second season, the reduction percentages were 98, 96, 96, 86 and 80, respectively. The highest value of fresh weight andthe most two abundant species weeds were Beta vulgaris and Medicago hispida. Also, the results revealed that, there were significant effects between weed control treatments on crop yield (ton/fed) and untreated check during the two seasons, where the lowest yield was 9.38 ton/fed. while, the highest yield was 32.2 ton/fed. in the twice hand hoeing treatment. On the other hand, the effect of tested herbicides on fresh weight of grassy weeds (g/m2) in two seasons, in the first season, twice hand hoeing was found to be more effective followed by clethodim, propaquizafop and then S-metolachlor, where the percentages of reduction were 99, 93, 86 and 85, respectively compared with untreated check. However, in the second season, the reduction percentages were 100, 98, 95 and 95, respectively. The highest value of fresh weight andthe most abundant weed wasPhalaris sp. Also, the results showed significant effects between weed control treatments on crop yield (ton/fed), during the first season with low crop yield (2.22 ton/fed.) in untreated check and the high crop yield (33.525 ton/fed.) in propaquizafop treatment. The highest value of crop yield was 24 ton/fed. in twice hand hoeing and the lowest was 9.3 ton/fed. in untreated check in the second season. In two seasons, data showed that weed control treatments increased the tested yield parameters as a following: triflusulfuron-methyl +hand hoeing > phenmedipham 7.5+ desmedipham 1.5+ ethofumesate 11.5 > twice hand hoeing > first hand hoeing and Pop-S. In addition, the data showed that clethodim was found to be the most effective in weed control, highest value of yield component followed by S-metolachlor, propaquizafop and then twice hand hoeing. However, clethodim was the most effective in weed control with the highest value of yield components wheras twice hand hoeing was the lowest one. It can be concluded that, triflusulfuron-methyl +hand hoeing was highly effective in weed control with highest value of yield components, while hand hoeing is the lowest one.