Efficiency of herbicide application in pea sowings in the Right Bank Forest Steppe of Ukraine

Abstract

Purpose. To determine the effect of herbicides, in particular those different in active substance, on the weediness of crops and the yield of pea seeds in the Right Bank Forest Steppe of Ukraine. Methods. Informational and analytical (collection of materials and analysis of literature), field experiment (establishment of experiments, observation of plant development, determination of biometric indicators, calculation the number of weeds, collection and determination of crop structure), mathematical and statistical (processing of the experimental dada). The field experiment design included plots with weed infestation and clear of weeds control plots to compare the development of pea plants under different cultivation conditions. Results. A diverse species composition of weeds was present in the pea crops; however, annual grass species prevailed. Herbicides Corum SC and Pulsar 40 SC are effective for protection of pea sowings from a wide range of weeds under the conditions of timely spraying and with the use of recommended application rates. This led to a decrease in the weed infestation from 78.6% to 88.3%. The yield of pea seeds in the plots where the crops were cultivated without the presence of weeds averaged 3.51 t/ha over the years of research, while in the control plots it was only 0.56 t/ha. Accordingly, crop losses due to the presence of weeds in crops reached 2.95 t/ha, or 84.1%. Pulsar 40 SC and Corum SC provided 3.11 and 3.28 t/ha of crop seeds, respectively, or 87.6 and 93.4% of the maximum yield level in experiments. Conclusions. The use of herbicides in pea sowings is an effective way to control weeds that compete with the pea crop for space, water and nutrients. However, it is important to choose herbicides correctly to avoid negative effects on the pea sowings and the environment.