Effect of Herbicide Doses on Fresh and Dry Biomass of Different Biotypes of Asphodelus Tenuifolius at Various Growth Stages

Herbicides are an integral part of farmer s cultural practices world-wide. An experiment was conducted at the department of Weed Science, NWFP Agricultural University Peshawar Pakistan during 2005-06 in Completely Randomized Design with split- split plot arrangements, to investigate the effect of different herbicides rates on fresh and dry biomass of wild onion at various growth stages. Two herbicides isoproturon and fenoxaprop-p-ethyl were tried each having four doses including an untreated check. Each biotype was subjected 4 doses of each herbicide at 2 leaf, 4 leaves and flowering stage of wild onion. Each treatment was replicated twice. The data were recorded on fresh and dry weight of wild onion. The interaction of herbicides x rates and biotypes x growth stages significantly affect the fresh weight. While the interactions of herbicides rates x growth stages, biotypes x growth stages, herbicides x rates, herbicides x growth stages and the three way interaction of biotypes x herbicides x growth stages significantly affected the dry weed biomass. Among the herbicides rates highest (4.83 g) fresh weight was recorded in untreated check while the lowest (3.66 g) was observed at high rate. Highest (4.76 g) fresh weight was observed for Mianwali and the remaing biotypes showed similar response statistically. For dry weight highest (1.97 g) value was recorded in untreated while the lowest (1.40 g) was recorded in the high rate. Among the biotypes highest (2.16 g) dry weight was recorded for Mianwali while the lowest (1.37 g) was recorded for Bannu biotypes. Flower initiations stage produce highest (3.51 g) dry weight and lowest (0.40g) was recorded at 2 leaf stages. In the three way interaction of biotypes x herbicides x growth stages highest (4.361 g) dry weight was observed in Mianwali in both herbicides at flower initiation stage while the lowest (0.313 g) was recorded at 2 leaf stage in fenoxaprop-p-ethyl, however it was statistically similar with the various value recorded in isoproturon at 2 leaf stage