Integrated Use of 2,4-D, Metribuzin, and Pyrazosulfuron-Ethyl (UPH 114b) for Managing Weeds and Improving Sugarcane Yield in Subtropical India

• Published in: Sugar tech : an international journal of sugar crops & related industries 2024-12, Vol.26 (6), p.1626-1639
• Main Authors: Jaiswal, V. P., Shukla, S. K., Sharma, Lalan, Singh, V. P., Gaur, Asha, Jha, Anand, Srivastava, Abhay
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 2,4-D; Agriculture; Anagallis arvensis; Bidens; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Carbon content; Cereal crops; Chenopodium album; Crop yield; Cynodon dactylon; Digitaria; Echinochloa crus-galli; Eleusine indica; field experimentation; Herbicides; India; Life Sciences; Melilotus albus; Metribuzin; Organic carbon; Organic soils; Parthenium hysterophorus; Phytotoxicity; Research Article; soil organic carbon; Sugar; Sugarcane; sugars; Trianthema portulacastrum; Weed control; Weeds; wheat
• ISSN: 0972-1525; 0974-0740; 0972-1525
• DOI: 10.1007/s12355-024-01441-w

A field experiment was conducted with eight treatments of weed management involving integrated and sole applications of 2,4-D, metribuzin, and pyrazosulfuron-ethyl along with weed-free and weedy check practices. The experimental treatments were replicated three times in a randomized block design. Applying integrated product of 2,4-D, metribuzin, and pyrazosulfuron-ethyl effectively managed the grassy ( Cynodon dactylon , Eleusine indica , Echinochloa crusgalli, and Digitaria spp.) and broad-leaved weeds ( Trianthema monogyna , Chenopodium album, Anagallis arvensis, Melilotus alba, Parthenium hysterophorus, and Bidens frondosa). The higher weed density (124.7 per m 2 ) in weedy check plots was recorded during the first cropping season than 2nd cropping season (118.22/m 2 ). Total weed dry weight was also significantly reduced at the lowest level (43.39 g/m 2 during 2019–2020 and 75.70 g/m 2 during 2020–2021) with the application of integrated product of 2,4-D, metribuzin, and pyrazosulfuron-ethyl @ 3200 g ai/ha. However, the weed control efficiency (77.57% and 55.59% during 2019–2020 and 2020–2021, respectively) recorded with application of similar herbicide @ 2400 g ai/ha was found at par with its application @3200 g ai/ha. The highest soil organic carbon content (19.90 Mg/ha) was recorded after sugarcane harvest in weedy check plots. The weed management through application of integrated product of 2,4-D, metribuzin, and pyrazosulfuron-ethyl @ 2400 g ai/ha could improve the sugarcane yield by 36.76% (101 tonnes/ha) over the weedy check plots. Increasing dose of the product @3200 g ai/ha could not increase the sugarcane and sugar yields up to significant level. Among all other herbicides treatments (single application) or integrated manner, application of 2,4-D, metribuzin, and pyrazosulfuron-ethyl @2400 g ai/ha also increased sugar yield by 45.12% (11.085 tonnes/ha) over the weedy check plots. The phytotoxicity of the new herbicide product of 2,4-D, metribuzin, and pyrazosulfuron-ethyl could not be recorded in subsequent wheat crops tested up to 4800 g ai/ha.