The Best Application Time and Dose of Herbicide for Optimum Weed Management in Two Red Bean Cultivars

Abstract

This study evaluated the effect of different application times and doses of herbicide bentazon (PS II inhibitor) on weed population in two red bean cultivars in Shahriar, Iran. The experimental design was split factorial in the form of a randomized complete block design with three replications. The main factor was red bean cultivar (Naz and Derakhshan), the sub factor was time of herbicide application (at the third trifoliate stage and 15 days after that) and the sub-sub factor was herbicide application dose (1.5, 2.5, 3 and 3.5 li/ha). Results indicated that in most cases, the treatments significantly affected weed's biomass and density. The highest weed control was achieved in Naz cultivar. The best herbicide treatment was the highest application dose (3.5 li/ha) applied at the third trifoliate stage which significantly affected the number of kernels/pod and kernels weight. About the yield components of red bean, Naz was better than Derakhshan with higher values of leaf and stem dry weight, the number of pods/plant and the number of kernels/pod.