Enhancing cotton yield (Gossypium hirsutum L.) through effective pre-emergence weed control using s-metolachlor and prometryn
Abstract
The use of pre-emergence (pre-em) herbicides in cotton crop is a key strategy for effective weed control. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and selectivity S-metolachlor in tank mixture with prometryn for pre-emergence weed control in cotton. The experiment was carried out at Rahad Research Station Farm (RRSF), Sudan, during seasons 2018/19 - 2019/20. S-metolachlor was applied in mixtures with prometryn. Herbicides were applied immediately after sowing. S-metolachlor at 1.142, 1.370 and 1.599 a.i./ha and prometryn at rates 0.357 and 0.476 a.i/ha, were used with and without supplementary hand weeding at 4 weeks after sowing (WAS). Weeded and un-weeded treatments were included for comparison. Treatments were arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 4 replicates. Results showed that mixtures of S-metolachlor + prometryn, irrespective of the rates, provided effective good to excellent control (70-100%) of grasses (G) in both seasons. The same treatments at all rates without supplementary hand weeding gave moderate to excellent control of broadleaved (BL) weeds in both seasons. The highest tank mixtures rates at (1.599+0.357 and 1.599+0.476 a.i./ha) caused phytotoxicity and reduced plant population and yield. All mixtures reduced weed ground cover throughout the seasons, and significantly reduced man-hour required for supplementary weeding in comparison with the weeded control (WC) and reduced weed biomass in comparison to the un-weeded control(UWC). Unrestricted weed growth significantly reduced cotton seed yield by 60-64% when compared with the weeded control. Consequently, it can be concluded that the pre-emergence herbicides of S-metolachlor + prometryn resulted in good control of both G and BL during the critical period of crop growth, and high cotton yield. The recommended dose at 1.142+ 0.476 a.i./ha of S-metolachlor and prometryn with supplementary hand weeding for effective control of both type of weeds grassy and for seed cotton yield comparable to the weeded control.
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