CHEPERNATY YE.V., HUK I.M. EFFICIENCY OF WEED CONTROL METHODS IN SORGHUM CROPS UNDER DIFFERENT MOISTURE CONDITIONS
Abstract
The effectiveness of chemical, mechanical, and combinedweed control methods in grain sorghum crops andtheir influence on plant development, yield structure,grain productivity, and fodder value under different moistureconditions were investigated. Field experiments wereconducted at the research farm of the Institute of IrrigatedAgriculture (currently the Institute of Climate-OrientedAgriculture) of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciencesof Ukraine during 2016–2018 on dark chestnut mediumloamy slightly solonetzic soil. Early-maturing hybrid Arskyand mid-early hybrid Foen were sown in the first decade ofMay in wide-row pattern with 70 cm inter-row spacing underboth irrigated and rainfed conditions.Surveys of crop stands revealed that the dominantweed species in grain sorghum crops were field bindweed(Convolvulus arvensis L.), common lambsquarters(Chenopodium album L.), redroot pigweed (Amaranthusretroflexus L.), and common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifoliaL.); among grass weeds – barnyardgrass (Echinochloacrus-galli L.) and yellow foxtail (Setaria glauca L.).It was established that the most effective weed controlmethod for irrigated grain sorghum crops is the chemicalmethod – pre-emergence application of herbicide Khortus(a.i. acetochlor, 2 L/ha) followed by post-emergence applicationof systemic herbicide Agent (a.i. florasulam, 0.5 L/ha).This system reduced weed infestation by 98% and ensuredmaximum grain yield of hybrid Arsky – 7.28 t/ha and hybridFoen – 8.16 t/ha, with the highest output of feed units anddigestible protein per hectare.Under rainfed conditions, the combined method provedmost effective – application of soil herbicide Khortus(2 L/ha) in combination with post-sowing harrowing andinter-row cultivation. This approach reduced weed densityby 94% and provided the highest grain yield: hybrid Arsky –3.53 t/ha, hybrid Foen – 4.31 t/ha with superior fodder valueof the harvested grain.Weed control systems significantly improved yieldstructure components. Under irrigation, the chemicalmethod ensured the formation of 30 panicles/m² in bothhybrids, with a 2.0–2.8-fold increase in grain mass per m²compared to unprotected control. The number of seedsper panicle increased by 15.5–28.2%, and panicle grainmass grew 1.2–1.5 times. Grain yield under irrigation withchemical protection exceeded the mechanical method by1.09–1.28 t/ha and the combined method by 0.56–0.67 t/ha(LSD₀.₀₅ = 0.20 t/ha).The output of feed units under irrigation reached9.93 t/ha for hybrid Arsky and 11.26 t/ha for hybrid Foenunder chemical protection, exceeding the unprotected controlby 6.38–6.41 t/ha. Digestible protein yield increased2.4–2.8 times compared to control under irrigated conditions.
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