Effect of Airborne Particles on Herbicides Efficiency for Control of Corn (Zea mays) Weeds in Kermanshah Region

Document Type : Research Paper

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Abstract

To evaluate the effect of airborne dust on the efficacy of the most important herbicides of corn and finding the possible solution ways to overcoming the negative effects of dust, an experiment was conducted at Research farm of Razi University, Kermanshah in 2012. The evaluated treatments were using herbicide foramsulfuron, nicosulfuron and herbicidal mixture of 2,4-D+MCPA in combination with and without adjuvants ammonium sulfate (AMS) and AMS+maisoil on weeds with washed and unwashed shoots. The experimental design was a randomized complete block in which treatments were arranged as factorial with four replications. Results of this study revealed that the presence of airborne dust on weed surfaces reduced the efficacy of foramsulfuron, nicosulfuron and herbicidal mixture of 2,4-D+MCPA on treated weeds species. The soil dust diminished the grain yield of corn as well. Addition of AMS to the spray solution and washing the weed shoots just before the application of treatmentsenhanced the activity of used herbicides. According the results of this study it would be concluded that theincreasing of pH of weed surface due to the presences of dust and adsorption of herbicides to soil particles are the possible mechanisms of reduction of herbicide efficacy.

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