Effect of herbicide application on biochemical changes in weeds commonly infesting tuber crops growing fields

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at ICAT CTCRI, Thiruvananthapuram during 2017-18 to study on “Effect of post emergence herbicide application on biochemical changes in weeds commonly infesting tuber crops growing fields”. The study focused on two major weeds commonly seen in the tuber crops fields at the Thiruvananthapuram i.e one narrow leaved weed/monocot- Pennisetum pedicellatum and one broad leaved weed/dicot- Indigofera hirsuta. Experiment consists of three replications, each replication with 7 treatments. Three post-emergence herbicides (Propaquizafop, glyphosate and clodinofop propargyl) were sprayed to each treatment plot of elephant foot yam crop. Biochemical parameters such as chlorophyll, carotene and protein content of weeds of treatments were estimated on 3rd, 7th and 10th day after spraying the herbicide. The study revealed that the variation in biochemical parameters with the application of herbicides. Chlorophyll, carotene and protein content of weeds showed gradual reduction in each interval of time. From the study it was observed that the herbicide glyphosate drastically reduced the chlorophyll, carotene and protein content of weeds after its application and quickly killed both weeds. Clodinofop propargyl, Propaquizafop were effective in controlling grassy weed than broad leaved weed.