Effect of Weed Management Methods on the Growth and yield of Ginger in Metu, Illubabor Ethiopia

Abstract

A field experiment on ginger weed management was conducted at Metu from2009 and 2011 with the objective of identifying effective weed management for ginger under Metu condition. Different weed management methods were compared in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The treatments were: hand weeding at 30,60,90, days after planting, .hand weeding at 45,75,105,135 &165 days after planting, hand weeding at 60,90,120,& 150 days after planting, mulching at planting followed by hand weeding at 45 and 75 days after planting, . mulching at planting followed by hand weeding at 60 and 90 days after planting, hand weeding at 30 and60 days after planting followed by mulching followed by one hand weeding as needed,  The result showed that the major weeds at both locations were: Cynodon spp., Cyprus spp., Digitaria spp., Gyzotia scabra, Bidens polynchyma, Nicandra physaloides, Commelina spp., Bidens pilosa, and Ageratum conyzoides. hand weeding at 30 and60 days after planting followed by mulching followed by one hand weeding as needed, hand weeding at 45 and 75 followed by mulching followed by one hand weeding as needed and weed free and weedy controls.The result reveled   a highly significant (p < 0.01) difference between treatments The result showed that as weeding frequency increased yield of ginger also increased. One early hand weeding between 30 and 45 days was critical to secure high yield of ginger. Mulching at planting followed by two hand weeding at 60 and 90 days after planting gave higher yield compared with the clean weeding treatment. Similarly hand weeding at 30 and 60 days followed by mulching and followed by one hand weeding also gave similar yield with clean weeding. Mulching at planting enhanced early germination and growth of ginger compared with non mulched ginger. On the other hand, the result also showed that ginger was poorly competed with weeds that when the first hand weeding was delayed from 30 to 45 and 60 days after planting ginger growth was affected resulting in tremendous yield loss. The result also clearly showed that three hand weeding at 30,60 and 90 days after planting was not adequate under Metu condition.  When weeding was totally ignored throughout the growing period yield reduction amounted 95.5 %.