Evaluation of sulfonyl-urea herbicides for pre and post- emergence weed control in upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) at Samaru-Zaria, Kaduna State

Abstract

Field trials were conducted during the 2010 and 2011 wet seasons at the institute for Agricultural Research farm, Samaru in the Northern Guinea Savannah zone of Nigeria to evaluate sulfonyl-urea Herbicides for Pre-and Post emergence weed control in upland rice. The trial consisted of 18 weed control treatments involving 11 Pre-emergence and four Post-emergence Herbicides, two hoe weeded controls and a weedy check, laid in Randomized complete Block Design (RCBD). The treatments were replicated three times Prosulfuron followed by (fb) Propanil at 0.02 fb 2.0 and 0.0. 2 fb 2.5 kg a.i/ha gave a good weed control in both trials and increased the grain field of paddy rice and was similar to the hoe weeded control. Cinosulfuron followed by propanil at 0.02 fb 2.0 and 0.02 fb 2.5 kg a.i /ha, and prosulfuron alone at 0.04 kg a.i/ha. Cinosulfuron at 0.02kg a.i/ha resulted in low grain yield and were similar to weedy check. Uncontrolled weeds throughout the crop life cycle resulted in 72.9% reduction grain yield compared to the best weed control treatment.