Effects of different weed control methods on the growth of seedlings of sweet grapefruit scion budded on Cleopatra mandarin rootstock in the nursery

Abstract

A field trial was conducted at National Horticultural Research Institute, Ibadan, Nigeria to evaluate the effects of different weed control methods on the growth of seedlings of sweet grapefruit (Citrus paradisi Macfad) scion budded on Cleopatra mandarin (Citrus reticulate Blanco) rootstock in the nursery. The weed control methods were Terminalia catappa leaf mulch at 10 t/ha, black plastic mulch at 188.8 kg ha', hoe weeding, hand weeding and clean weeding twice at 4 and 8 weeks after application (WAA), herbicide (Bipyridylium Paraeforce) at 276g a.i ha) and a weedy check i.e. no weeding as control. The experimental design was randomized complete block design in three replications. Results showed that the use of T catappa leaf mulch increased citrus rootstock seedling's plant height and stem diameter by 95% and 70% respectively and this enhanced easy budding ofsweet gapefruit scion. The use of black plastic mulch increased number of leaves by 80.5% at 16 weeks after treatment application, while, plot treated with black polythene sheet mulch recorded the tallest scion of 22cm and bigger stem diameter of 0.4 cm for sweet grapefruit scion 12 weeks after budding. The weed control methods were estimated to reduce weed density by 30- 87.5%, weed fresh and dry weight by 35-77% and 55-60% respectively, while the weed control methods increased weed control efficiency by 42.5- 80% compared to the weedy check (Control).