Abstract
A field experiment was carried out at Agricultural Seed and Services Research Station in Zimbabwe to evaluate the response of maize inbred lines to different herbicide combinations. The trial was laid out in a 5×12 split plot design replicated three times. Herbicide combination was main plot factor with five levels; Hand-hoeing;metolachlor+ atrazine;metolachlor+ atrazine+ nicosulfuron; metolachlor+ atrazine+ halosulfuron and metolachlor +atrazine+ nicosulfuron+ halosulfuron. These combinations of herbicides have a broad spectrum activity and are able to control annual and perennial weeds with an inbred line as subplot factor with twelve levels; CML488, CML312, CML444, CML443, CM1, CML395, CZL0610, CZ3, CZL03014, L917 and N3.2.3.3. Data on germination, phytotoxicity, plant height, anthesis silking interval (ASI), ear height and grain yield were measured. There was a significant interaction (p 0.05) among herbicide combinations and maize inbred lines on plant height (week 12). That concluded metolachlor+ atrazine+ nicosulfuron and metolachlor +atrazine+nicosulfuron+ halosulfuron herbicides had a major effect on susceptible maize inbred lines. Inbred lines were grouped into three categories in relation to European Weed Research Council (EWRC) score, efficacy and survival rate into; tolerant (CML312, CML444, CML443 and CM3), medium resistant (CML395, CZL0610, NAW5885 and CZ3) and susceptible (CML488, CZL03014, L917 and N3.2.3.3). Therefore, the study recommends not using metolachlor+ atrazine+ nicosulfuron and metolachlor+ atrazine+ nicosulfuron+ halosulfuron herbicide combinations on susceptible maize inbred lines. Key words: Zea mays, inbred lines, herbicide combinations, metolachlor, atrazine, nicosulfuron.
Highlights
Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important staple food crop grown in Zimbabwe where it is ranked first in the number of producers, area grown and total cereal production (Mashingaidze, 2004)
Inbred lines were grouped into three categories in relation to European Weed Research Council (EWRC) score, efficacy and survival rate into; tolerant (CML312, CML444, CML443 and CML00003), medium resistant (CML395, CZL0610, NAW5885 and CZL00003) and susceptible (CML488, CZL03014, L917 and N3.2.3.3)
The results indicated that there was an interaction between herbicide combination and maize inbred line on germination
Summary
Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important staple food crop grown in Zimbabwe where it is ranked first in the number of producers, area grown and total cereal production (Mashingaidze, 2004). Maize inbred lines are characterised by low vigour, slower growth and this makes them susceptible to various stress conditions (Stefanovic and Simici, 2007) These inbred lines can only compete successfully for light, water, nutrients and carbon dioxide if they are adequately protected against both annual and perennial (Johnson grass, wild sorghum and nutsedge) weeds. Currently weed management is more centralised towards use of herbicides due to shortage of labour (Waddington and Karigwindi, 1996)
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