Complex weed flora, Persistence, Premix formulation, Ready mix formulation, Wheat, Weed control efficiency
Bio-efficacy of ready-mix formulation of clodinafop-propargyl 15% + metsulfuron-methyl 1% WP was studied against complex weed flora in wheat during 2006-07 and 2007-08 at Hisar, India. Among different herbicidal treatments, clodinafop 0.06 kg/ha was found very effective (95-98%) only against grassy weeds. Metsulfuron 0.004 kg/ha was effective (88-90%) only against broad-leaf weeds. Sequential application of clodinafop 0.06 kg fb metsulfuron 0.004 kg/ha being statistically at par with clodinafop- propargyl + metsulfuron- methyl at 0.06 + 0.004 kg/ha and above proved very effective against complex weed flora and the control of grassy and broad-leaved weeds to the extent of 95%. clodinafop- propargyl + metsulfuron- methyl being at par with clodinafop fb metsulfuron 0.06 and 0.004 kg/ha recorded the number of spikes, 1000-grain weight and grain yield of wheat statistically similar to that of weed free check. There was no additional gain in grain yield of wheat by using higher doses of clodinafop- propargyl + metsulfuron- methyl beyond 0.06 + 0.004 kg/ha. Weeds allowed growing throughout the crop seasons resulted into 42.9 and 45.1% reduction in the grain yield of wheat during 2006-07 and 2007-08, respectively. There was no residual impact of clodinafop-propargyl + metsulfuron-methyl at x dose (0.06+ 0.004 kg/ha) and 2x dose (0.12 + 0.008 kg/ha) on succeeding crops of sorghum and moongbean. HPLC analysis indicated that there were no residues of clodinafop-propargyl + metsulfuron-methyl (x and 2x doses) at wheat harvest in soil, grains and straw. There was also no adverse effect of herbicides on physico-chemical properties of soil.