Effect of integrated mechanical and chemical methods on yield and yield components of corn in Karaj region, Iran.

Subject Areas : Agroecology Journal

Arash Roozbahani ¹ , ghorban normohammadi ² , hamid Rahimian Mashhadi ³ , mohmmadali Baghestani ⁴ , eskandar zand ⁵

1 - Scientific Board of Islamic Azad University, Rudehen Branch, and Former Ph.D student of Islamic Azad University of Tehran, Science and Research Branch.
2 - Professor of Islamic Azad University of Tehran, Science and Research Branch.
3 - Professor of Tehran University.
4 - Associate Professor of Weed Science Research Department, Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection, Tehran.
5 - Associate Professor of Weed Science Research Department, Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection, Tehran.

Received: 2008-05-27 Accepted : 2009-08-17 Published : 2010-01-21

Keywords: yield, corn, Yield components, herbicide, Integrated weed management, Mechanical weed control, Chemical weed control,

Abstract :

    The study was carried out to evaluate the effect of integrated mechanical and chemical weed control aspects on yield and yield components of corn, Zea mays L., in 2005-2006 at agricultural research station of weed research department of Iranian research institute of  plant protection in Karaj region. The experiment was designed as split plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications. Factors were cultivation numbers (no cultivation or control, one time at 10 cm height of corn, and two times at 20 and 30 cm height of corn) and five chemical treatments including mixture of 1 lit. Atrazine and 5 lit. Alachlor (recommended dose), reduced doses of Atrazine and Alachlor’s mixture up to 25%, 50%, 75%, and a control. Yield and yield components including numbers of row/silk, numbers of grain/row and 100 grain weight were measured and analyzed statistically. The results showed that the effect of all treatments on all measured traits were significant. Among different mechanical treatment levels, two times applying of cultivator was better than one times cultivation and control. 75% reduced dose of Atrazine and Alachlor’s mixture and recommended dose of the herbicide were superior to the others and resulted in decrease of weed dry matter and increased yield and yield components of corn. Finally, it was recommended that mentioned integrated weed management approaches should be applied to reduce herbicide use, supress weeds and increase yield and yield components of corn in Karaj and similar regions.

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