Performance of some grass killers against Avena fatua and their effect on yield and yield components of wheat in southern Punjab

Two grass herbicides viz. clodinafop-proparrgyl (Topik15 WP) and fenoxaprop-p-ethyl (Puma Super 75 EW) at varying levels were used to investigate the control of Avena fatua; a predominant rabi weed of wheat crop in Southern region of Punjab, Pakistan. An experiment comprising six treatments and three replications was conducted at District Dera Ghazi Khan during 2004-05 and District Rajanpur during 2005-06 using Randomized Complete Block Design. The treatments consisted of weedy check, Puma Super 75 EW @ 0. 625, 0.925 and 1.25 L ha-1 and Topik 15 WP @ 200 and 250 g ha-1 was applied as post-emergence. The data recorded showed very promising results. Maximum control of weed population was achieved with the application of Puma Super 75 EW @ 1.25 L ha-1 and Topik15 WP @ 200 g ha-1 at both the sites leading to increased wheat growth and yield as a result of reduced competition between wild oats and wheat. The Puma Super 75 EW @ 1.25 L ha-1 increased wheat yield by 18% and Topik 15 WP 200 g ha-1 by 16% at D.G. Khan district while at Rajanpur district Puma Super 75 EW resulted in 32% and Topik 15 WP 29% increase in grain yield. These findings indicated that Avena fatua losses to wheat crop in Southern Punjab can be minimized significantly by using appropriate dose of any of the two available narrow-leaved herbicides used in the experiment. However, Puma Super 75 EW proved to be superior to Topik 15 WP during the two consecutive years studies. The study clearly indicated that enhanced rate (i.e.1.25 L ha-1) of Puma Super 75 EW and reduced rate of Topik 15 WP (i.e.200 g ha-1) application as post emergence applications can minimize the losses caused by A. fatua to wheat crop in the Southern Punjab.