Adigun J. A, Lagoke S. T. O., Adekpe I. D.
Abstract
Field trials were conducted to evaluate various herbicids and herbicide mixtures for weed control in rain-fed
upland rice at the Institute for Agricultural Research Farm, Samaru during the wet seasons of 1996 and 1997.
Thirteen herbicide treatments were evaluated and compared with hoe-weeded control and a weedy check in a
randomized complete block design with three replications. All the weed control treatments and hoe weeding
significantly reduced weed growth and resulted in higher paddy rice yields than the respective weedy check. Among
the various herbicide treatments tested pre-emergence application of dimethymetry at 1.0 kg a.i./ha; diflufenican at
0.3 kg a.i./ha; relof (piperophos + propanil) at 3.0 kg a.i./ha; oxidiazon at 1.0 and 1.5 kg a.i./ha; consistently
combined effective weed control with good crop growth and high paddy rice yields comparable to the hoe-weeded
control in both years. Unrestricted weed growth throughout the crop life cycle resulted in 53 and 73% reduction in
potential paddy rice yields in 1996 and 1997 wet seasons, respectively.
Key words:
Weed control, herbicide treatments, upland rice, Nigerian savanna.