Evaluation of Fluazifop-P-Butyl and Propanil for Weed Control in Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) in Southern Guinea Savanna, Nigeria

Aims: To evaluate the effects of rates of the post-emergence herbicides Fluazifop and Propanil for weed control in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) grown in Makurdi.
Study Design: Randomized Complete Block Design.
Place and Duration of Study: The trials were conducted in the growing seasons of 2009 and 2010 at the Teaching and Research Farm of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi (07º 41´N and 08º 37´E) in the Southern Guinea Savanna zone of Nigeria.
Methodology: The eight (8) treatments consist of three rates of Fluazifop (0.15, 0.22 and 0.30 kilogram active ingredient per hectare (kg a.i./ha) and three rates of Propanil (0.72, 1.44 and 2.16 kg a.i./ha), hoe-weeded at 3 weeks after planting (WAP) and a weedy check. The sesame seeds (variety “E8”) used for trials was planted by broadcasting on plot sizes of 5m×4m (20m2). The herbicide applications were carried out as post-emergence at 15 days after planting. Fertilizer NPK (20:10:10) was applied at 4 WAP at the rate of 150 kg ha-1 by broadcasting.
Results: The three rates of Fluazifop significantly controlled grasses without any crop injury. However, Propanil controlled both grasses and sedges, but on broadleaf weeds, the effect increased with increasing at 4 WAP. Grain yield was highest (858 kg ha-1) at 0.72 kg a.i./ha of Propanil, that was followed by treatments that received 1.44kg a.i./ha of the same herbicide. The least grain yield (467 kg ha-1) was obtained with the weedy check.
Conclusion: The highest benefit-cost ratio of 3.53 was obtained from Propanil at rate of 0.72kg a.i./ha. This is an indication that Propanil could be used to control weeds in sesame to boost its productivity in the study area.