Indian J. Agric. Res..

, 48 (6) 453-458, 2014 AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATION CENTRE

www.arccjournals.com / www.ijarjournal.com
doi:10.5958/0976-058X.2014.01329.8

EFFECT OF TRANSPLANTING DATE AND REDUCED DOSES OF

OXYFLUORFEN HERBICIDE ON WEED CONTROL, YIELD AND QUALITY OF
ONION (ALLIUM CEPA L.) IN SOUTH OF IRAN
Abbas Abbaszadeh, Mahmood Dejam* , Sedigheh Sadat Khaleghi1 and Hamed Hasanzadeh2
Department of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University,
Fasa Branch, Fasa, Iran
Received: 19-08-2014 Accepted: 19-09-2014
ABSTRACT
In order to evaluate the effects of transplanting dates (7 October, 22 October and 6 November)
and weed control treatments (50, 75 and 100% of recommended dose of oxyfluorfen herbicide and
hand weeding) on weed control,bulb yield and quality of onion cv.Rio Bravo, a split plot design
experiment was conducted in Minab (Hormozgan province) in 2013-14.The results showed that
apart from hand weeding treatment with no weed in plots, oxyfluorfen application at 100%
recommended dose caused the minimum density and dry weight of weeds. Besides weed control,
oxyfluorfen application caused increase in yield, weight and dimension of bulbs and decrease in
their neck thickness.The interaction between transplanting dates and weed control methods was
significant for bulb yield and quality characters, so that the highest yield of bulbs (80.6 t ha-1) was
obtained with application of oxyfluorfen at 75% recommended dose in 22 October planting date,
although 100% recommended dose of this herbicide in all planting dates also produced high yields
without significant differences. The highest content of total soluble solids (6.46 %) and lowest neck
thickness (8.5 mm) of bulbs were observed in oxyfluorfen 100% recommended dose and 6 November
planting date. Since hand weeding is an expensive and labor intensive process, so the complete
dose of oxyfluorfen is recommended for weed control and high yield in onion, although with proper
selection of planting date, the use of reduced dose (75%) of this herbicide is also possible.

Key words: Bulb weight, Bulb yield, Neck thickness, Onion bulb, Oxyfluorfen, Weed population.

INTRODUCTION 2004).Weeds could take plant nutrients applied to

Onion (Allium cepa L.) belonging to the
liliaceae family is one of the important bulbous
vegetable crops not only in Iran but also all over the
world. In Iran, onion is grown on over 71 thousand
hectares producing 2260 thousand tones at an
average yield of 31.8 t ha-1 in the year 2012
(FAOSTAT, 2014). Onion is a poor competitor with
weeds because in onion, the growth process is slow
and the form of leaves is cylindrical, so they can’t
produce enough canopies to block weeds growth
(Khokhar et al., 2006; Hussain et al., 2008; Ibrahim
et al., 2011; Ramalingam et al., 2013). In addition,
onion crops require long growing season for bulb
production, hence this long season allows weeds to
emerge and compete with them (Ghosheh,
*Corresponding author’s e-mail: mahmooddejam@yahoo.com
1
Department of Horticultural Sciences, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran.
2
Department of Horticulture, University of Hormozgan, Bandar-e-Abbas, Iran.
the crops that leads to reduction of onion bulb yield
(Ghosheh, 2004; Khokharet al., 2006). Therefore,
weed control is essential for successful production
and obtaining high yields of onion bulb. Farmers
use various methods to control weeds in onion fields.
Hand weeding is an important and usual cultural
practice for weed control. Never the less, because of
high cost of hand weeding, the lack of labor and
crop damagein this method (Khokhar et al., 2006;
Rahmanet al., 2012) the use of herbicides is an
appropriate option for weed management in
commercial bulb production.The use of various
herbicides for weed control of onion has been
reported by several researchers (Patel et al., 1986;
Keeling et al., 1990; Rapparini, 1994; Ghaffoor,
454 INDIAN JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH
2004; Channappagoudar and Biradar, 2007; Uygur
et al., 2010). Oxyfluorfen is one of the most important
herbicides for onion weed control and is effective
against a wide range of weeds including both
monocots and dicots. Shinde et al. (2012) showed
the application of oxyfluorfen (425 ml/ha) before
planting and a second application at 15 days after
transplanting were effective for controlling the weeds
in Kharif onion. In another study, this herbicide
reduced weeds density and increased onion yield in
a relay cabbage–onion cropping system (Sanjeevet
al., 2003). On the other hand, the choice of planting
date that i nteracts with local climate and
environment is also important for productivity of
onion and it affects yield and quality of bulbs (Caruso
et al., 2014). Qasem (2006b) indicated planted crops
at the end of December gave better production than
planted crops at the end of November or January in
Jordan climate. The present study was conducted
to evaluate the interaction between transplanting
dates and various concentrations of oxyfluorfen
herbicide on weed control, bulb yield and quality of
onion and to compare chemical weed control with
hand weeding method. The ultimate goal of this
investigation was possible reduction of herbicide
usage in onion fields in order to produce more healthy
bulbs with less chemical residues in them.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Plant materials and procedures: This experiment
was carried out in a field around Minab (Hormozgan
province, South of Iran, 57013’E, 27010’N and
27m above sea level) during 2013-14. Soil of the
experimental field was analyzed and recorded at
Table 1. For soil bed preparation, animal manure at
the rate of 20 t/ha was mixed with the plowed soil.
Moreover, chemical fertilizers including 150 kg/ha
of N as urea, 50 kg/ha of P2O5as superphosphate
and 75 kg/ha of K2O as potassium sulfate were
applied. The two leaved onion transplants of Rio
TABLE 1: Soil properties of the experimental ûeld.
Sand (%) 58
Silt (%) 18
Clay (%) 24
Organic matter (%) 0.54
Total nitrogen (N) (%) 0.053
Available phosphate (P2O5) (mg/kg) 12.05
Available potassium (K2O) (mg/kg) 157
pH 7.38
Electrical conductivity at 250C (ds/m) 1.30
Bravo cultivar were planted at three different dates
includi ng 7 October, 22 October and 6
November.Weed control treatments were weedy
check (weeds were left until harvest), weed free
(weeds were continuously removed by hand until
harvest) and oxyfluorfen application at 50, 75 and
100% of recommended dose (480 g a.i.ha-1). The
herbicide was applied 30 days after transplanting
by means of a hand pump sprayer.
Data collection: Weeds number and their dry
weight were recorded in random 0.25m2quadrates
per plot, 15 days after herbicide application. The
bulbs of each plot were harvested 120 days after
transplanting and the yield of bulbs per hectare was
calculated. The average bulb weight (g), bulb
diameter (mm), bulb height (mm), neck thickness
(mm) and total soluble solids (TSS%) of bulbs were
recorded by random selection of 10 bulbs in each
plot.The TSS of bulbs extract was determined by a
hand refractometer (Si Model).
Statistical analysis: The experimental treatments
were randomized in a split-plot design, assigning
planting dates to the main plots and weed control
methods to the sub-plots with four replications.
Data were processed by analysis of variance
and mean separations were performed through
the Turkey test using SPSS software version 9.1.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Weeds flora: The experimental field was infested
mostly with narrow-leaved weeds such as green
foxtail (Settaria viridis) and barnyard grass
(Echinochloa crus-galli). Further more some
broadleaved weeds such as redroot pigweed
(Amaranthus retroflexus) and common mallow
(Malva neglecta) were also observed in plots.
Weeds density and dry weight: In this study, the
number of weeds was higher in onions planted at
22 October than the crops planted at 7 October or 6
November, whereas the highest dry biomass of
weeds was observed in planted crops at 6 November
(Table 2). The results showed that various weed
control methods were effective in reducing the weeds
population and dry weight compared with weedy
check although their effectiveness was different. The
response of weeds to herbicide application was dose
dependent, therefore less weeds were observed in
plots sprayed with oxyfluorfen herbicide at 100%
 Vol. 48, No. 6, 2014 455
TABLE 2: Effect of different planting dates on weeds density, weeds dry weight, yield and quality characters of onion
bulbs.
Weeds Weeds dry Bulb Bulb Neck
Bulb yield(t Bulb Bulb
Planting date number weight(g m- diameter height thickness
ha-1) weight (g) TSS(%)
(m-2) 2
) (mm) (mm) (mm)
7 October 194b* 107.3b 51.0a 230a 70.3a 73.3a 16.7a 4.85b
22 October 291a 94.1b 58.3a 143c 63.5b 56.2c 10.9b 4.86b
6 November 205b 153.8a 57.6a 158b 65.1b 59.3b 11.5b 5.37a
*The values with similar letters in each column have no significant difference using Tukey test at 5 % probability.
recommended dose (480 g a.i.ha-1)(Table 3).The than other herbicides. In another study, the use of
interaction between planting dates and weed control oxyfluorfen at 400 g a.i.ha”1resulted in lower weed
methods significantly affected weeds number and density, weed dry weight and higher weed control
dry weight. Apart from weed-free treatment, the efficiency (Ramalingam et al., 2013).
minimum number and dry weight of weeds were Bulb yield and quality: In this study, the planting
observed with the application of oxyfluorfen at 100% dates didn’t have significant effect on bulb yield of
recommended dose in all planting dates (Table 4).The onion, although the highest yield was obtained in
present study showed that hand weeding throughout planting date of 22 October (Table 2).The highest
the season controlled onion weeds but it must be bulb weight was recorded at planting date of7
noted that this method is too much laborious and October (Table 2). It seems that earlier planted
time consuming as well as expensive. These results onions have enough time to complete their growth
indicated that oxyfluorfen herbicide at and development stages and acqui re more
100% recommended doseeffectively controlled assimilates that can lead to bulb weight increase
weeds. Similar effects onweeds population were (Hamma, 2013).It has been reported that mean bulb
previously reported by Ibrahim etal. (2011). They fresh weight decreased from the earliest planting to
noted that oxyfluorfen (240 g L-1) was more effective the latest one in southern Italy climate (Caruso
in reducing of weeds density and dry matter in onion et al., 2014). In Bangladesh because of short winter
TABLE 3: Effect of different weed control treatments on weeds density, weeds dry weight, yield and quality characters of
onion bulbs.

Weeds Bulb Bulb Bulb Bulb Neck

Weed control Weeds dry Bulb
number yield(t weight diameter height thickness
treatments weight(g m -2 ) TSS(%)
(m -2) ha-1) (g) (mm) (mm) (mm)
Oxyfluorfen(50% 204b 142.8b 56.2c 170c 64.8b 66.8a 14.8a 4.65bc
Oxyfluorfen(75%) 116c 102c 65.6bc 198b 75.3a 65.8a 13.0b 5.17ab
Oxyfluorfen(100%) 56d 27.2d 79.5a 274a 77.4a 68.6a 10.6c 5.81a
Weed-free 0e 0e 69.2ab 208b 73.4a 66.7a 13.1b 5.31ab
Weedy check 772a 320a 7.7d 36d 40.5b 46.6b 13.8b 4.18c

*The values with similar letters in each column have no significant difference using Tukey test at 5 % probability.

TABLE 4: Interaction between planting dates and weed control treatments on weeds number and dry weight in onion.
Planting dates Weeds number(m-2) Weeds dry weight (g m-2)
Weed control treatments 7 October 22 October 6 November 7 October 22 October 6 November
Oxyfluorfen(50%) 188cde 224c 200cd 186.4cd 89.6e 152.4d
Oxyfluorfen(75%) 104f 128def 116ef 92.0e 54.8ef 158.8d
Oxyfluorfen(100%) 52fg 68fg 52fg 30fg 22fg 30fg
Weed-free 0g 0g 0g 0.0g 0.0g 0g
Weedy check 628b 1036a 565b 228c 304b 427.6a
*The values with similar letters in first three columns(for weeds number) and second three columns (for weeds dry weights) have
no significant difference using Tukey test at 5 % probability.
456 INDIAN JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH
season, early planting at 30 October was favorable
for getting higher bulb yield (Ud-deen, 2008). In Mid
Hills of Nepal, transplanting date at 15 August
produced the highest bulb yield among four
transplanting dates (25 July, 5 August, 15 August,
and 25 August) (Gautam et al., 2006).
There were significant differences in bulb
yield among weed control treatments. The highest
yield was obtained in oxyfluorfen at 100%
recommended dose treatment and in second place
were hand weeding and oxyfluorfen at 75%
recommended dose with no significant difference
(Table 3). With respect to interaction effect of
experimental factors, the highest yield was obtained
in planting date of 22 October and oxyfluorfen at
75% recommended dose, although this had no
significant difference with oxyfluorfen at 100%
recommended dose and hand weeding at all planting
dates (Table 5). Application of oxyfluorfen at 100%
recommended dose and hand weeding resulted in
the highest bulb weight in onion. In contrast, the
lowest weight was recorded in weedy check due to
the competition between planted crops and weeds
for space, nutrients and light (Table 5). The findings
of present study are in agreement with those of
other studies (Qasem, 2006a; Uygur et al.,
2010; Ramalingam et al., 2013) that stated
oxyfluorfen herbicide increased bulb weight and yield
of onion.The maximum bulb weight was found in
TABLE 5: The interaction effect of planting dates and weed control treatments on yield and quality characters of onion
Planting Bulb yield
Weed control treatments
date (t ha-1)
Oxyfluorfen(50%) 49.2b
Oxyfluorfen(75%) 45.7b
7 October
planted crops at 7 October, which were sprayed with
oxyfluorfen at 100%recommended dose followed by
weed-free treatment and oxyfluorfen at 75%
recommended dose (Table 5). Marwat et al. (2003)
reported that weeds can seriously affect bulb size
and reduce onion yield and their control increases
nutrient availability for the crop and results in higher
yield.
The results of this study showed that bulb
diameter and height were affected by planting date.
The planting date of 7 October produced the largest
bulbs that had higher diameter and height in
comparison with two other planting dates. Moreover
the produced bulbs at this date had the highest neck
thickness (Table 5). Gautam et al. (2006) reported
that there were no significant differences for length
and diameter of onion bulbs at different planting
dates in summer. In this study, the highest percentage
of bulb TSS was observed at last date of
transplanting (Table 5). In one study, the soluble
solids content increased from 7.7% in onions
planted at 1 February to 8.1% in onions planted
at 18 March (Caruso et al., 2014).
The results of present study showed that weed
control treatments increased bulb diameter and height
of onion compared with weedy check
(Table 3). Moreover the interaction between planting
dates and weed control treatments was significant for
bulb diameter and height (Table 5). Ibrahim et al. (2011)
bulbs.
Bulb Bulb Neck
Bulb weight
diameter height thickness BulbTSS(%)
(g)
(mm) (mm) (mm)
182c 60.7e 75.4a 21.4a 3.99de
258b 83.3a 75.0a 16.7bc 4.42b-e

Oxyfluorfen(100%) 80.4a 407a 82.1ab 81.3a 13.1def 5.92ab

Weed-free 69.8ab 268b 82.6ab 80.1a 18.4b 5.2a-e
Weedy check 10.0c 36a 42.6f 54.5cd 14.1cd 4.69a-e
Oxyfluorfen(50%) 56.5ab 140d 63.0de 63.2b 11.3efg 4.82a-e
Oxyfluorfen(75%) 80.6a 175cd 69.6cde 61.8b 10.5fgh 5.36a-e
22 October

Oxyfluorfen(100%) 79.2a 180c 75.1abc 59.7bc 10.1gh 5.04a-e

Weed-free 70.1ab 184c 68.0cde 57.3bc 9.4gh 4.96a-e
Weedy check 5.3c 34e 42.0f 38.8e 13.4de 4.1cde
Oxyfluorfen(50%) 63.0ab 190c 70.9b-e 61.8bc 11.8d-g 5.15a-e
Oxyfluorfen(75%) 70.6ab 159cd 73.1a-d 60.7bc 11.8d-g 5.72a-d
6 November

Oxyfluorfen(100%) 78.8a 234b 75.0a-d 64.7b 8.5h 6.46a

Weed-free 67.8ab 172cd 69.7cde 62.7b 11.5d-g 5.78abc
Weedy check 7.9c 38e 37.0f 46.7d 14.0d 3.75e

*The values with similar letters in each column have no significant difference using Tukey test at 5 % probability.
 Vol. 48, No. 6, 2014
observed the highest bulb diameter by using
oxyfluorfen compared with other herbicides. It has
been reported that different concentrations of
oxyfluorfen resulted in the highest bulb diameter in
onion over the weedy check treatment (Shinde
et al., 2012). In this study, the lowest neck thickness
of bulbs was obtained by the use of oxyfluorfen at100
(Table 3). Neck thickness is an important trait of
bulb quality in onion due to its effect on bulb storage
ability. The onion with thin neck diameter stores
better than one with thick diameter (Gautam et al.,
2006). All the weed control treatments resulted in
457
significantly higher bulb TSS than the weedy check.
A similar result was reported by Shinde et al. (2012).
CONCLUSION
The results of this study showed the
combination of oxyfluorfen at 100% recommended
dose with transplanting date of 7 October was more
suitable to obtain better bulb yield and quality of
onion as well as effective weed control. Further more
in planting date of 22 October, the use of reduced
dose (360 g a.i.ha-1) of oxyfluorfen herbicide
produced comparable bulb yield and quality with
recommended dose (480 g a.i.ha-1) of this herbicide.

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