Effects of Chlorsulfuron 75% WDG Herbicide and Varieties on Striga Control and Sorghum Yield in Tigray, Ethiopia

Abstract

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.)Moench] is widely cultivated but the productivity is very low due to different factors such as Striga hermonthica. Field trails were carried out at Humera location to determine the management of striga to different rates of herbicide application to increase sorghum yield during 2017 cropping season. The trail consisted of eight treatments; 0 (control), 10, 15 and 20gha-1 rates of Chlorsulfron. The herbicide rates were assigned to the main plot while sorghum varieties were assigned to subplots, replicated three times in a split plot design. The data of days to 50%emergence, 50%flowering, plant height at maturity, Panicle length, panicle weight (g), yield per panicle (g), 1000 seed weight (g), grain yield (kg ha-1), above ground dry biomass (kg ha-1) and striga data days to first striga emergence, days to first flowering, number of striga count, branch number per striga plant, striga count per sorghum plant, striga height and biomass (kg/m2 respectively. Partial budget analysis was computed to assess the economic visibility of herbicide application where recorded. Result showed that application of herbicide rates and varieties increased plant height, panicle length, number of heads harvested per plot, panicle weight, yield per panicle, 1000 seed weight and grain yield over the control. Maximum grain yield (3725kg ha-1) was obtained from application of 15 g ha-1 Chlorsulfron with variety Deber. Days to first flowering, striga count per sorghum plant, stand counts of striga at 45DAP, 65 DAP and 85DAP M-2, branch number per plant, plant height and biomass of striga were significantly (P<0.01) affected with the application of herbicide rates and varieties. The partial budget showed that an investing of 1.0 birr on application of herbicide with varieties earn 2.34 birr. Generally, application of Chlorsulfuron75% WDG and use local variety with high yielder could be an advantage to obtain highest yield and profit for the farmers in striga infestation areas.