Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• Javad Hamzei ¹
• Human Abbasi ²
• Zohreh Vaziri Amjad ³

¹ Associate Prof. Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.

² Former MS Student of Agronomy, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.

³ Former MS Student of Agronomy, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.

Abstract

The effect of different weed control methods on weeds dry weight and yield of maize (Zea mays L. cv. SC500) were evaluated during 2012 growing season in the Research Farm of Bu-Ali Sina University. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Treatments were hand weeding, straw mulch, colorless plastic mulch, black plastic mulch, herbicide application and control (weedy check). The effects of treatments were significant on the characteristics of weeds dry weight, grain yield and yield components of maize such as number of grain rows ear^-1, number of grain plant^-1 and grain weight. In comparison with control treatment, straw mulch significantly increased yield components of maize. The highest grain yield (9363 kg.ha^-1) and the lowest value (with 43.44% reduction) were observed at straw mulch and control treatments, respectively. Also, the highest (940.92 g.m^-2) and the lowest weeds dry weight (with 88.51% reduction) were achieved at control and black plastic treatments, respectively. However, grain yield and weed dry weight values were the same as affected by the treatments of straw mulch, colorless plastic, and black plastic. In general, straw mulch was considered as the best treatment, due to environmental risks of polyethylene plastics application in agriculture, and it could increase maize yield and provide effective weed control.

Keywords

• herbicide
• plastic mulch
• Production
• straw
• weeding

20.1001.1.83372008.1396.19.1.8.4