Effect of Various Weed Management Options on Weeds and Yield of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) at Shambo and Gedo, Western Oromia

Abstract

A field experiments on weed control in barley were conducted during the main season of 2015/2016. Different weed management practices were evaluated with the hand weeding and weedy check, for weed competition and grain yield of barley.  The trial was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Results of the experiment revealed that Significantly lowest total weed density (13.3m^-2) and (29.7 m^-2) and maximum grain yield of (4312.5 and 4382.6 kg ha^-1) with (50.7 and 54.4 %) harvest index  was recorded in two times hand weeded plot at Shambo and Gedo sites, respectively. Additionally, the lowest total weed dry weight of weight (20.3) and (17.8g m^-2) with highest control efficiency (81.7 and 72.4 %) was recorded for two times hand weeded plots followed by Dical 720 gm/lt SL + Fenoxaprop-P-Ethyl 69 gm/lt at these respective locations. In contrary, the highest weed density (49.5m^-2) and (102.0 m^-2), and lowest grain yield (2525.7 kg ha^-1) and (2776.9 kg ha^-1) was obtained from weedy check at Shambo and Gedo, respectively. Economic analysis of the test depicted that the maximum rate of return (36.4162 and 35.91566) was also calculated for Dical followed by Fenoxaprop-P-Ethyl 69 gm/lt + Dical 720 gm/lt SL (4.080275 and 6.5375) at Shambo and Gedo, respectively. It can be concluded that integration of Fenoxaprop-P-Ethyl 69 gm/lt with Dical 720 gm/lt SL or one times hand weeding was quite effective to control major broad and grass weed species observed in barley fields.

Key terms: - Integrated practices, Barley, weed reduction, Grain yield.