Author/Authors :
Khatam, Amir Agriculture Department (Extension), Pakistan , Khan, Muhammad Zafarullah University of Agriculture - Department of Agricultural Extension Education Communication, Pakistan , Nawab, Khalid University of Agriculture - Department of Agricultural Extension Education Communication, Pakistan
Abstract :
The study was conducted in 2011 in order to check perception of farming community regarding effect of various weed control practices on yield and yield components of wheat crop in the six union councils of district Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The six union councils included Anbar, Lahore, Manki, Tordher, Jalbai and Jehangira. Data were collected by a survey method from 120 respondents, having randomly selected 20 farmers from each of the union councils. The information was gathered from farmers regarding manual weed control and use of herbicides included Puma Super (fenoxaprop-P-ethyl) using @ 500 ml acre^-1, clodinafop-propargyl 15%WP @ 140 g acre^-1, Buctril super (bromoxnil-octanovate + heptanovate ester) @ 300 ml acre^-1, Affinity 50WP (carfentrazone ethyle + isoproturon) @ 700 g acre^-1, and Eagle (bromoxynil + MCPA) @ 500 m acre-1. Common weeds in wheat crop were Phalaris minor, Convolvulus arvensis, Euphorbia helioscopia, Malva parviflora, Cyperus rotundus, Coronopus didymus, Avena fatua, Rumex dentatus, Melilotus indica, Medicago denticulata, and Chenopodium album. Analysis of the data showed that weeds were controlled manually and through application of herbicides. However, overwhelming majority (91.67%) of the farming community perceived that weeds in wheat crop were most effectively controlled by manual weeding followed by application of herbicides named Puma super (fenoxaprop-P-ethyl) @ 500 ml acre^-1 as perceived by 85% of the respondents. The study concludes that all parameters including density of weeds per square meter, average plant height (cm), tillers per square meter, grains per spike and grain yield (kg/ha) were significantly affected by manual weeding and application of herbicides, especially by Puma super (fenoxaprop-P-ethyl) 6.57% using @ 500 ml acre^-1. The study recommends that manual weeding or use of Puma super (fenoxaprop-P-ethyl) @ 500 ml acre^-1 may be used for effective control of weeds and thus get higher yields of wheat crop.
