Evaluation of pre-emergence herbicides in gladiolus (Gladiolus)

Abstract

An experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of different herbicides on weed control and growth and development of gladiolus (Gladiolus (Tourn) L.) cv. White Prosperity grown at research farm of Directorate of Floricultural Research, New Delhi during 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons. The major weeds infesting the experimental field were Ageratum conyzoides, Chenopodium album, Convolvulus arvensis, Cynodon dactylon, Cyprus rotundas, Digera arvensis, Digitaria adscendance, Euphobia hirta, Parthenium hysterophorus and Portulaca. The unweeded control plots recorded maximum weeds at 25 (153.2 m2) and 50 (180.7/m2) days after planting (DAP). Whereas significantly low weed count, fresh weight and dry weight were recorded in the pre-emergence application of Atrazine (@ 1.0 and 1.5 kg a.i./ha). The maximum weed control efficiency (WCE) was recorded in Atrazine (@ 1.5 kg a.i./ha (82.2)). However, pre-emergence application of Pendimethalin (1.0 and 0.75 kg a.i./ha) had superior effect on the plant height, spike length, rachis length and number of florets. The number of corms/plant, fresh weight of corms and diameter of corms were maximum with application of Atrazine (@ 1.0 and 1.5 kg a.i./ha) however, number of