Control of Parthenium (Parthenium hysterophorus) in Grain Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) in the Smallholder Farming System in Eastern Ethiopia1
- 1 January 2004
- journal article
- Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) in Weed Technology
- Vol. 18 (1), 100-105
- https://doi.org/10.1614/wt-03-033r
Abstract
Parthenium is a competitive weed spreading in tropical countries. Field experiments were conducted to compare the effect of hand hoeing, growing a smother crop, and applying a herbicide (2,4-D) on parthenium growth and on yield of grain sorghum in smallholder farming systems in eastern Ethiopia. Hand hoeing twice and a smother crop (cowpea) in combination with hand hoeing once consistently suppressed parthenium at the experimental sites. Application of 2,4-D provided inconsistent control of parthenium, possibly because of reemergence from the soil seed bank after control. Growing cowpea as the smother crop suppressed parthenium, but sorghum grain and stalk yields were reduced even when the smother crop was combined with hoeing. Hand hoeing twice, 4 and 8 wk after emergence of sorghum, consistently resulted in better yields than application of 2,4- D and growing smother crop. It is possible that hoeing, apart from controlling the weed, also created better soil conditions for rain water infiltration. Nomenclature: 2,4-D, (2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid; parthenium, Parthenium hysterophorus L.; cowpea, Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.; grain sorghum, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. Additional index words: Hand hoeing, smother crop, Ethiopia.Keywords
This publication has 10 references indexed in Scilit:
- Germination ecology of the weed Parthenium hysterophorus in eastern EthiopiaAnnals of Applied Biology, 2002
- Interference by the weed Parthenium hysterophorus L. with grain sorghum: Influence of weed density and duration of competitionInternational Journal of Pest Management, 2002
- Weed flora in arable fields of eastern Ethiopia with emphasis on the occurrence of Parthenium hysterophorusWeed Research, 2000
- Cover crops and interrow tillage for weed control in short season maize (Zea mays)European Journal of Agronomy, 2000
- Behaviour of buried and surface‐sown seeds of Parthenium hysterophorusWeed Research, 1998
- Effect of Annual Medic Smother Plants on Weed Control and Yield in CornAgronomy Journal, 1997
- Hillslope dynamics of on-farm generation of surface water flows: The case of rain-fed cultivation of pearl millet on sandy soil in the SahelAgricultural Water Management, 1997
- Weed interference in maize, cowpea and maize/cowpea intercrop in a subhumid tropical environment. I. Influence of cropping seasonWeed Research, 1984
- The influence of temperature and photoperiod on growth and development of Parthenium hysterophorus L.Weed Research, 1980
- Establishment Methods for Alfalfa in Irrigated Corn1Agronomy Journal, 1974