Comparative efficacy of herbicides against spurge (Euphorbia geniculata) in soybean (Glycine max)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy seasons of 2001 and 2002 at Jabalpur to study the comparative bioefficacy of different herbicides for the control of the problem broad leaf weed spurge (Euphorbia geniculata Orteg.) in soybean (G&ci/le nluvL. Merr.). Among the test herbicides, chlorimuron ethyl 0.01 kgiha being at par with metribuzin 0.5 kdha significantly reduced the growth of spurge. Uncontrolled weeds caused 59 % seed yield loss compared with the metribuzin 0.5 kgiha. Lacto fell 0.15 kgiha showed slight phytotoxicity on the crop and reduced the plant population and podslplant. Metrihuzin 0.5 kg/lia being at par with chlorimuron-ethyl 0.01 kgha gave the maximum seed yield and additional return owing to higher yield attributing characters. But maximum benefit: cost ratio ( I 1.37) was recorded with chlorimuron 0.01 kg/ha due to its lower cost.