Efficacy of Herbicides in Controlling Wild Onion (<i>Asphodelus tenuifolius</i> L.) in Cumin Grown under Arid Climatic Conditions

• Main Authors: Moti Lal Mehriya, Neelam Geat, Sita Ram Kumhar, Abdullah A. Alrajhi, Mohammed A. Alkuriji, Ahmed Z. Dewidar, Mohamed A. Mattar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-08-01
• Series: Agronomy
• Subjects: B:C ratio; oxyflourfen; weed density; seed yield; weed control efficiency; weed index
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/8/1597

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of different herbicides for controlling wild onion (<i>Asphodelus tenuifolius</i>) in cumin (<i>Cuminum cyminum</i> L.) during the rabi seasons (2018–2019 and 2019–2020) at Agricultural Research Station, Agriculture University, Jodhpur, Rajasthan. The experiment comprised eight herbicidal weed management treatments for wild onion applied to cumin in a three-replication randomized block design. Among the herbicidal weed management treatments, early post-emergence (8 DAS) application of oxyfluorfen 200 g/ha resulted in the lowest weed density and dry matter of <i>Asphodilus tenuifolius</i>, with maximum weed (<i>Asphodilus tenuifolius</i>) control efficiency at 40 days after sowing (DAS) during both experimental years. Likewise, the highest total efficiency of weed control was recorded with the application of oxyfluorfen 200 g/ha at 8 DAS. Oxyflourfen 200 g/ha used early post emergence (8 DAS) reduced the weed index more effectively than the other herbicides. It also recorded the highest number of branches/plant, plant height, umbels/plant, umbellates/umbel, seeds/umbellates, and seed yield. However, application of oxyflourfen @ 200 g/ha 8 DAS–early POE and pendimethalin 38.7 CS 500 g/ha + oxyfluorfen @ 150 g/ha 8 DAS–early POE were statistically similar in terms of plant growth, yield, and yield attributes. The net returns (366.49 USD/ha in 2018–2019 and 175.72 USD/ha in 2019–2020) and B:C ratio (1.70 and 1.33 in 2018–2019 and 2019–2020, respectively) were also superior, with oxyfluorfen 200 g/ha applied early post emergence.