The Critical Period of Weed Control in Maize (Zea mays L.) in Sudan

Abstract

Competition between maize (Zea mays L.) and weeds is a
serious challenge to crop production. A field study was conducted at the
Demonstration Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Khartoum,
Sudan, during 2008/09 and 2009/10 winter seasons, to determine the
magnitude of yield losses due to weed competition and identify the
critical period of weed interference in maize. The experiment consisted of
two sets. In the first set the crop was kept weed-free for 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8
weeks after sowing. In the second set weeds were allowed to compete
with the crop for 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after sowing. Unrestricted weed
growth reduced maize cob length, cob weight, grain number/ plant, 100
seeds weight and grain weight/ plant by 62%, 82%, 75%, 49% and 87%,
respectively in the 2008/2009 season and by 62%, 89%, 75%, 41% and
85%, respectively in the 2009/2010 season. The presence of weeds
throughout the crop growth duration resulted in 82% and 84% loss in
grain yield in seasons 2008/09 and 2009/10, respectively. The critical
period of weed control in maize was found to be between 2 and 6 weeks
after sowing