Evaluation of new formulations of oxyflurofen (Hadfa, oxyfen and eradicool) and pendimethalin (Proud) in mixture with diuron for preemergence weed control in cotton

Weed competition decreases cotton yield by more than 70; in Sudan. An experiment was carried out at Gezira Research Station Farm in 2002-03 season to evaluate the efficacy and selectiviy of Hadaf 24EC, Oxyfen 24EC and Eradicool 24EC (new formulations of Oxyfluorfen) and Proud (new formulation of Pendimethalin) for preemergence weed control in cotton. Cultivar Barac 67B was sown on ridges 80 cm apart and at interrow spacing of 50cm between holes. Hadaf, Oxyfen, Eradicool and Goal as standard, each at 0.12kg a.i./ fed and Proud and Stomp as standard, each at 0.6kg a.i./fed, weedwd and unweeded treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with 4 replicates. All products were tank mixed with Diuron at 0.2kg a.i./fed. Some herbicide treated plots were supplemented by hand weeding 4weeks after sowing. Weeded control given three hand weedings. Effect of treatments were assessed by counting total and individual weed species. Percent weed ground cover; man-hours required for supplementary weeding, weed biomass/m**, crop stand and yield were determined. All Oxyfluorfen formulations, irrespective of supplementary weeding, gave excellent control of grasses and good to poor control of broadleaved weeds. Proud and stomp displayed excellent control of grasses and satisfactory to poor control of broadleaved weeds. All products reduced weed ground cover, man-hours required for supplementary weeding and weed biomass. All herbicides out yielded, significantly, the unweeded control by over 54; and resulted in yield comparable to that of the weeded control and their standards Goal and stomp. The Pests and Diseases Committee recommended the following herbicides for control of pre-emergence weed in cotton:1- Hadaf 24 EC + Diuron 80 WP at (0.5 L + 0.25 kg/fed (0.12 + 0.2kg a.i./fed), 2- Oxyfen 24 EC + Diuron 80 WP at (0.5 L + 0.25 kg/fed (0.12 + 0.2kg a.i./fed), 3- Eradicool 24 EC + Diuron 80 WP at (0.5 L + 0.25 kg/fed (0.12 + 0.2kg a.i./fed), 4- Proud 50 EC + Diuron 80 WP at (0.6 + 0.2kg a.i./fed)