Chemical weed control in a rubber nursery

Abstract

The effect of five herbicides, after previous application of a pre-emergence mixture of metholachlor + metribuzin at 2.16 + 0.48 kg of a.i./ha, on bedded plants and on weed control in a rubber nursery (Hevea spp) was studied. Infesting species were Digitaria insularis (L.) Mez., Wedelia paludosa DC. and Croton lobatus L. Treatments used were: metholachlor + glyphosate at 2.16 + 0.96 kg a.i./ha, diuron + glyphosate at 1.00 + 0.96 kg/ha, diuron + paraquat at 1.50 + 0.20 kg/ha, glyphosate at 1.44 kg/ha, 2.4-D-glyphosate at 1.40 kg/ha, a relative control which received only the pre-emergence treatment and an absolute control without this previous application. Results showed that all the herbicides tested were efficient in weed control, with good residual effects as well as a possibility of reduced dosages. None of the herbicides were toxic to the bedded rubber plants at the dosages tested.