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Determination of critical period for weed control in intensive and non-intensive sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L., Poaceae) production systems in center Côte d’Ivoire
Abstract
Field experiments were conducted in Zuenoula and Yamoussoukro for determining Critical Period for Weed Control (CPWC) in sugarcane. The treatments consisted in two sets of weed interference. In the first set, the crop was kept weed-free until 31, 61, 92, 123 days after planting (DAP) in Zuenoula and until 32, 69, 98 and 162 DAP in Yamoussoukro. In the second set, weeds were permitted to grow within the crop until the above-mentioned DAP. The CPWC was determined for 5, 10, 15 and 20% acceptable yield loss levels by fitting Logistic and Gompertz nonlinear equations to relative yield data. In both locations, increasing the duration of weed interference decreased sugarcane yield significantly. In Zuenoula, the CPWC was from 28 to 117, 30 to 93, 32 to 75 and 34 to 59 DAP to prevent yield losses of 5, 10, 15 and 20%, respectively. In Yamoussoukro, the CPWC ranged from 38 to 163, 39 to 112, 40 to 99 and from 40 to 91 DAP to prevent yield losses of 5, 10, 15 and 20%, respectively. Results suggest weed control between 28 and 117 DAP in Zuenoula and between 38 and 163 DAP in Yamoussoukro to provide maximum yield.
Keywords: Weed interference, Gompertz, Logistic, weed control, yield.