Influence of Sowing Time on Winter Wild Oat (Avena ludoviciana) Control in Wheat (Triticum aestivum) with Isoproturon

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted during the winters of 1987–88 and 1988–89 at Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, India to evaluate the response of winter wild oat to sowing date and isoproturon application time in wheat. In another experiment, the effect of sowing time on emergence and growth of winter wild oat and wheat sown separately was studied. The treatments that provided more than 75% control of winter wild oat were: isoproturon at 0.75 kg ha−1applied at the 2-leaf stage of winter wild oat; isoproturon 1 kg ha−1applied at the 4-leaf stage of winter wild oat in the November 30 planting; and isoproturon 0.50 kg ha−1applied at the 1- to 2-leaf stage of winter wild oat in the December 20 sowing. Isoproturon did not provide more than 50% control of winter wild oat in the November 10 sowing. Mortality of winter wild oat increased from 38 to 72 to 87% in November 10, November 30, and December 20 sowings, respectively. Mortality of winter wild oat was similar in November 30 and December 20 sowings but higher grain yield was recorded in November 30 sowing. Due to vigorous growth of winter wild oat in the November 10 sowing, isoproturon did not provide good control. December 20 sowing favored wheat growth due to lower density and late emergence of winter wild oat but reduction in wheat grain yield was greater. When averaged over isoproturon treatments, the grain yield of wheat was 4607, 5297, and 4457 kg ha−1in the November 10, November 30, and December 20 sowings, respectively.