Comparison of in situ mechanical weed control vs chemical weed

control for better growth and yield of maize

Abdul Muswar1*, Ali Raza1, Saman Tahir2, Asma Ali Raza2, Zunaira2, Iram Batool2,
Maryam Tariq3, Ammara Tanveer2
1
Institute of Agricultural Extension Education and Rural Development, University of Agriculture
Faisalabad, Pakistan
2
Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan
3
Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan

*Corresponding Author Email: abdulmuswarjutt@gmail.com

Abstract damages caused by weeds, also, but

The aim of this comparative study effectively weed was controlled by T3 as

was to evaluate the effects of mechanical vs compared with T4, T2 and T0. It was

chemical weed control approaches to control determined that maximum plant height and

weeds in corn field for better growth and seed number on the cob was obtained in T2

yield. Therefore, an in-situ field based as compared with others T3, T1 and

experiment was conducted as a randomized minimum was in T0. Moreover, 100-seed

complete block design with three weight and biological yield was reported in

replications. The treatments included: T0; no T2, followed by T3, T1 whereas minimum

weed control, T1; mechanical weed control, was observed in T0 treatment. Regarding

T2; pre-emergence application Shoot All seed yield maximum was reported in T2,

50% EC (Pendimethalin + S-metachlore + followed by T3, T1 and minimum was

Oxiflorafin), T3; post emergence application reported in T0 treatment. So, it is

Atromaize 50% EC (Atrazine + recommended that the pre emergence

Mesotrione). Some properties were studied herbicide weed control method is most

such as the dry weight of weed species, appropriate, economical, and feasible for

plant height, seed number on the cob, seed efficient maize production.

yield, 100 seed weight, biological yield and Keywords: Weed control, mechanical,
grain yield. Totally, result showed that chemical, maize, growth, yield
application of herbicide led to reduction of
 Musawar et al., 2021. Journal of Agriculture Environment & Food Security. 2: 1-8
Introduction
Globally, maize (Zea mays L.) is
cultivated under diverse range of climatic
and soil conditions for fodder and grain
purposes (Ranum et al. 2014). In 2019,
maize was grown over an area of 183,507
thousand hectares all over the world with a
production of 354 million tonnes (FAO,
2020). In Pakistan, maize is the 3rd most
important cereal after wheat and rice that
was cultivated on 1,318 thousand hectares,
and production was 6.309 million tonnes
(GOP, 2019). Various agronomic factors
(tillage practices, planting time, weeds
infestation, low amount of fertilizer, abiotic
stresses, etc.) that reduced the plant growth,
development, and yield (Liu et al., 2016).
Maize (Zea mays L.) being one of
the most important cereals of the world and
has attained a commercial crop status and
has scope to increase the present maize
yields. Selecting a pre-emergence (PRE) and
post-emergence (POST) herbicide program
that has the greatest efficacy can be difficult
for corn producers and is highly dependent
on weed spectrum (Stewart et al., 2012).
Management of weeds is considered
to be an important factor for achieving
higher productivity. Due to increased cost
and non-availability of manual labor in
Copyright © 2020 Journal of Agriculture Environment & Food Security
required quantity timely for hand weeding,
role of herbicide is significant preposition
herbicides not only control the weeds timely
and effectively but also offer great scope for
Page | 2
minimizing the cost of weed control
irrespective of situation. Use of pre and
post-emergence application of herbicides
would make herbicidal weed control more
acceptable to farmers which will not change
the existing agronomic practices but will
allow for complete control of weeds (Gower
et al., 2002). Usage of pre-emergence
herbicides assumes greater importance in the
view of their effectiveness from initial
stages. Pre-emergent application of
herbicides will control the weeds up to 25
days and after that post emergent application
is given so that further growth of weeds can
also be controlled. Pre-emergence and post
emergence herbicides will be an ideal means
for controlling the weeds in view of
economics and effectiveness in maize (Haji
et al., 2012). The aims of this comparative
study was comparison and evaluation of
mechanical weed control, pre and post
emergence herbicides effect to efficient
control of weeds in maize field.
Material and Methods
Experimental design and treatments
 Musawar et al., 2021. Journal of Agriculture Environment & Food Security. 2: 1-8
Experiment was conducted as a
randomized complete block design with
three replications. The treatments included:
T0; no weed control, T1; mechanical weed
control, T2; pre-emergence application
Shoot All 50% EC (Pendimethalin + S-
metachlore + Oxiflorafin) @ 500 ml/acre,
T3; post emergence application Atromaize
50% EC (Atrazine + Mesotrione) @ 1000
ml/acre.
Crop husbandry
Seeds of hybrid maize (Hybrid
Sygenta-6654) were procured from
Syngenta Pakistan Limited, Faisalabad.
Maize seed was sown on 11 August 2018
-1
using seed rate of 25 kg ha into prepared
soil (two harrowing along with planking
after that prepared hill at 75 cm apart
spacing and height of 30 cm). Two seeds
were sown on top of every hill by
maintaining PP distance of 20 cm and
thinning was practiced ten days after
sowing, to attain better growth and healthy
plant population. Before sowing, seeds were
treated with fungicide Benlate @ 2 g kg-1
seed, which aims to avoid soil-borne
diseases and to control the attack of shoot
fly during the initial growth stages (initial 40
days). Based on soil analysis, fertilizers such
as N, P, K were applied at 200, 165, 125 kg
Copyright © 2020 Journal of Agriculture Environment & Food Security
ha-1, respectively using urea (N 46%), DAP
(P 46%, N 18%) and SOP (K2O 50%) as
sources. The whole amount of P, K, and
one-third of N were applied at basal
Page | 3
whereas, reaming N dose was supplemented
in two equal splits at different growth stages
(20 days after sowing and 45 days after
sowing). Some properties were studied such
as the dry weight of weed species, plant
height, seed number on the cob, seed yield,
100 seed weight and biological yield.
Statistical analysis
Recorded data were analyzed by
analysis of variance by using statistical
software (Statistix 8.1). at 95% of
confidence interval. Different letters were
used to portray the significant difference
among treatments by LSD at 95% of
confidence interval (Steel et al. 1997).
Field observation and measurements
Ten plants from each experimental
unit were randomly selected, and height was
measured from base to top with a meter rod.
Similarly number of grains per cob and were
calculated by measuring randomly ten cobs,
and average was considered. 100-grain
weight was calculated by using digital
weighing balance adjusting moisture
 Musawar et al., 2021. Journal of Agriculture Environment & Food Security. 2: 1-8

contents at 14%. Grain and biological yield,
plants were harvested from each plot,
weighed with digital weighing balance.
Results and discussion
Dry weight of weed species
matter accumulation of weeds over the other
methods of the weed control. Fayed et al.,
(1983), who reported that application of
herbicide significantly decreased the fresh
Page | 4
weight of total winter weeds in comparison
to un-weeded treatments.

The results showed that the Plant height

treatments led to decreasing in dry weight of
The results showed that the
weed, application of T1, T2, and T3 showed
treatments led to an increase in plant height,
55.70, 91.44 and 80.30% decreasing of weed
application of T1, T2 and T3 showed 2.82,
dry weight in compare to T0. Also results
31.63 and 18.64% plant height increasing in
showed that T2 application led to decreasing
compare to T0. Also results showed that T2
in compare to T3 and T1, respectively.
application led to increasing in compare to
Singhet al., (2001) reported that while the
T3 and T1, respectively. It is well known
weed management methods significantly
that weeds interfere with crop plants causing
reduced the intensity of weeds and dry
serious impacts either in the competition for
matter, two manual weeding at 25 and 45
light, water, nutrients and space or in the
days after sowing were found the most
allelopathy (Heap, 2014).
effective in reducing the intensity and dry
Table 1: Comparison of different in situ weeds control methods on the weeds dry weight
(g/plot), plant height (m) and seed number per cob in maize field.

Treatments Weeds dry weight Plant height Seed number per

(g) (m) cob
T0 185.8 a 1.77 d 458.4 d
T1 82.3 b 1.82 c 486.7 c
T2 15.9 d 2.33 a 560.2 a
T3 36.6 c 2.10 b 510.6 b
Means within a column followed by the same letter(s) are not significantly different (ns) at P > 0.05 based on
Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. T0; no weed control, T1; mechanical weed control, T2; pre-emergence, T3; post-
emergence.

Copyright © 2020 Journal of Agriculture Environment & Food Security

 Musawar et al., 2021. Journal of Agriculture Environment & Food Security. 2: 1-8

Seed number on the cob vigorous root systems inhibit the

development of crops through severe
The results showed that the treatments led to
nutrition deprivation (Isik et al., 2006).
an increase in seed number, application of
T1, T2 and T3 showed 6.17, 22.16 and 100-seed weight Page | 5

11.38% seed number increasing in compare

The results showed that the treatments led to
to T0. Also results showed that T2
an increase in 100 seed weight, application
application led to increasing in compare to
of T1, T2 and T3 showed 4.36, 26.35 and
T3 and T1, respectively. Faster growth of
10.78% 100-seed weight increasing in
weeds is disadvantageous for light and
compare to T0. Also results showed that T2
hence photosynthesis needed for plants
application led to increasing in compare to
(Williams et al., 2010) through this light
T3 and T1, respectively. Martin et al.,
deprivation less energy is available to crop
(2001) concluded that the effect of crop
plant for metabolic production and hence
competition on weed growth resulted in a
growth, yield and its quality of crops will be
conservative estimate of the critical period
reduced. In addition, weeds with branched,
of weed control.

Table 1: Comparison of different in situ weeds control methods on the 100 seed weight (g),
seed yield (kg/ha) and biological yield (kg/ha) in maize field.

Treatments 100-seed weight Seed yield Biological yield

(g) (kg/ha) (kg/ha)
T0 190.1 d 7924 d 14323 ns
T1 198.4 c 8070 c 15668 ns
T2 240.2 a 8439 a 16561 ns
T3 210.6 b 8266 b 16532 ns
Means within a column followed by the same letter(s) are not significantly different (ns) at P > 0.05 based on
Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. T0; no weed control, T1; mechanical weed control, T2; pre-emergence, T3; post-
emergence.

Copyright © 2020 Journal of Agriculture Environment & Food Security

 Musawar et al., 2021. Journal of Agriculture Environment & Food Security. 2: 1-8

Seed yield that using of T2 had highest effect on weed

control in compare to T3 and T1.
The results showed that the treatments led to
Application of T1, T2, and T3 showed 1.84,
an increase in seed yield, application of T1,
6.49 and 4.32% seed yield increasing in
T2 and T3 showed 1.84, 6.49 and 4.32% Page | 6
compare to T0.
seed yield increasing in compare to T0. Also
results showed that T2 application led to
increasing in compare to T3 and T1,
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