Integrated Weed Management in Wheat Fields Using Reduced Herbicide Doses Combined with Allelopathic Extracts from Wild Barley (Hordeum spontaneum Koch.)

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Weed infestation greatly decreases the productivity of wheat fields, commonly controlled by the application of synthetic herbicides. Nonetheless, the ecological impacts of these chemicals have caused interest in studying alternate methods, such as using plant extracts with allelopathic activity. This experiment was conducted at two locations (Location I - Erbil Directorate of Agricultural Research / Ainkawa and Location II - farmer land in Gwer sub-strict) to evaluate the effectiveness of utilizing wild barley aqueous extracts in mixing with lower dosages of synthetic herbicides to control weeds in wheat fields (Triticum aestivum L.) and examine their impact on wheat growth parameters. The study randomly completed the block design (RCBD) with three replications in a field experiment. The treatments contained various combinations of herbicide dosage and wild barley extracts. The treatments comprised a complete application of TARZEC 320 WG herbicide (Halauxifen-methyl 70 g/kg and Pyroxsulam 250 g/kg) at a rate of 90 g/ha, aqueous extracts of wild barley at a concentration of 200 g/L, and mixtures of TARZEC at 75%, 50%, and 25% of the recommended dosage combined with 25%, 50%, and 75% wild barley extracts, respectively, and both of weedy and weed-free plots were used as controls. A significant reduction in weed growth was observed by combining wild barley extracts with lower doses of herbicides. Significant decreases in weed density were noted at the full herbicide dosage in both sites, while the control plots showed the greatest dry weed biomass at each location. The parameters of wheat growth, including plant height, biological yield, weight of 1000 grains, grain yield, harvest index, and weed index, demonstrated significant variations throughout the various treatments. At location II, the weedy control plots showed the highest plant height (111.7 cm). At the same time, the weed-free plots at the same location produced the highest biological yield, reaching a record 19.52 tons per hectare. The plots tested with TARZEC and wild barley water extracts yielded the highest values for thousand-grain weight, grain yield, harvest index, and weed index. Combining allelopathic water extracts from wild barley with herbicide applications may result in a reduction exceeding 50%, thereby enhancing weed management and increasing wheat yield parameters.