Efficacy of Atrazine Herbicide for Maize Weed Control in New Alluvial Zone of West Bengal

Abstract

Field study was conducted in during 2015 and 2016 to evaluate the efficacy of new formulation of atrazine herbicide on weed control in maize. The experiment was conducted at Research farm, kalyani of BCKV. The treatment schedule was untreated, Spraying of new formulation atrazine 50% WP @ 1 kg / ha , new formulation atrazine 50% WP @ 2 kg / ha, new formulation atrazine 50% WP@ 4 kg / ha, old formulation atrazine 50% WP @ 1 kg / ha and old formulation atrazine 50% WP @ 2 kg / ha. The spraying schedule was started on ten days after sowing. The weed complex consisted of Echinochloa colona, Brachiaria mutica, Digiteria sanguinalis, Elusine indica, Cyperus rotundus, Amaranthus viridis, Digera arvensis, Alternanthera philoxeroides, Phyllanthus niruri etc. However application of new formulation @ 4 kg/ha to maize plot gave lowest weed density, dry matter and highest WCE at 10, 20 and 30 DAA. Application of atrazine 50% WP (new source) at the higher doses i.e. @ 4 kg ha -1 gave highest grain yield (4.37 t/ha) , which was statistically at par with the recommended dose i.e. @ 2 kg ha -1 , therefore lower concentration may be preferred over higher concentration. No phytotoxic symptoms were observed in any of the doses of atrazine 50% WP (new). So atrazine 50% WP (new source) @ 2 kg ha -1 may be safely used for effective weed control and better yield of maize.