Use of Round Up (glyphosate) in weed control under oil palm: some cost implications

Abstract

The cost effectiveness of Roundup in weed control under oil palm was assessed using four treatments in four replications in a randomised complete block design. Whole plots and strips of the planting lines were cleared using manual and chemical means. Costs of all operations were noted. Weed re-growth rates were assessed at 4, 8 and 12 weeks after treatment application. There was a significant difference at P = 0.05 between weed re-growth rates in herbicide-treated and manually weeded plots. Within treatments weed re-growth rates were practically the same. However, economic analysis carried out indicates that roundup applied in planting rows is more cost-effective than either roundup in whole plots or manual weeding in planting rows and whole plots.

JOURNAL OF THE GHANA SCIENCE ASSOCIATION Volume 2 No. 2 (2000) pp. 94-98