Weed control in cauliflower ( Brassica oleracea var. Botrytis L.) with herbicides

• Published in: Crop protection Vol. 26; no. 7; pp. 1013 - 1020
• Main Author: Qasem, J.R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-07-2007
• Subjects: application methods; application rate; application timing; Brassica oleracea var. Botrytis; Cauliflower; Control; cultivars; field experimentation; Herbicides; pesticide application; pesticide formulations; plant growth; weed control; Weeds; Jordan; Cauliflower; Herbicides; Control; Brassica oleracea var. Botrytis; Weeds
• ISSN: 0261-2194; 1873-6904
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cropro.2006.09.010

Field experiments were carried out to evaluate the effect of different herbicides on weeds and cauliflower (
Brassica oleracea var.
Botrytis cv. White Cloud) grown under Jordan Valley conditions during the 1996/1997 and 1997/1998 growing seasons. The most common weed species were
Chenopodium murale L. (133
plants
m
−2),
Malva sylvestris L. (38
plants
m
−2) and
Echinochloa colonum (L.) Link (13
plants
m
−2). On average, weed competition for the entire growing season reduced cauliflower shoot dry weight by 74.8% and head weight by 76.1% compared with the weed-free control. With the exception of linuron, all herbicide treatments increased crop shoot dry weight, head weight and number compared with the weed-infested plots. Oxyfluorfen applied pre-planting at 2.5
l
ha
−1 resulted in the highest cauliflower growth and head yield. Pre-planting application of chlorthal-dimethyl (10
kg
ha
−1), pendimethalin (4.6
l
ha
−1), nitrofen (1.4
l
ha
−1) and trifluralin (1.5
l
ha
−1), and post-planting treatment of oxyfluorfen (2
l
ha
−1) were also effective and increased head yield of cauliflower compared with other herbicides. Oxyfluorfen (pre-planting) was the best in controlling weeds and reduced their shoot dry weight by 65.5% compared with the weed-infested control. Other herbicide treatments reduced weed biomass below the weed-infested control but were variable in their effects. Although diphenamid (7.5
kg
ha
−1) and pronamide (2.5
kg
ha
−1) reduced weed growth, this effect was not reflected as an increase in cauliflower shoot dry weight or head yield. Linuron (1.7
kg
ha
−1) was damaging to cauliflower and reduced shoot growth and head yield.