Effect of Sulfonylurea Herbicides on Weeds Control, Growth and Yield of Sweet Corn (Zea mays L. var. Saccharata)

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

• F Bastegan
• S,A, Kazemeini
• H. Ghadiri

Department of Plant Production and Genetics, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.

10.22067/jpp.2022.75107.1077

Abstract

Introduction
 Sweet corn (Zea mays L. var. saccharata) is an important crop, grown over 2,000 hectares in Iran. The consumption demand for sweet corn in its fresh form or as a processed crop has contributed to a significant increase in its cultivation in recent years. Sweet corn is susceptible to weed competition for nutrients, moisture, and light interception. Herbicides labeled for use on sweet corn are limited. Chemical control can be very important because of the low efficiency and cost effectiveness of mechanical or other methods of weed control. Hence, it is necessary to provide information about the sulfonylurea herbicides and suitable doses. Sulfonylureas such as nicosulfuron, rimsulfuron, and foramsulfuron are effective group of herbicides for annual and perennial weed control in maize. These herbicides provide a new chance for weed management in maize. Their mode of action occurs through inhibiting acetolactate synthase (ALS), thereby interfering with the production of branched-chain amino acids, leucine, isoleucine, and valine. The objectives of this experiment were to evaluate the effect of different doses of sulfonylurea herbicides on weeds control and growth and yield of sweet corn.
Materials and Methods
 In order to evaluate the effect of different doses of sulfonylurea herbicides on weeds control and growth and yield of sweet corn (KSC403su), a field study carried out during 2015 growing seasons at the Agricultural College of Shiraz University. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with 4 replications. Treatments included different doses of nicosulfuron (1.5, 2 and 2.5 l ha^-1), foramsulfuron + idosulfuron (1, 1.5 and 2 l ha^-1) and acetochlor (4.5, 5 and 5.5 l ha^-1) herbicides and weed free and weedy control. The number and dry weight of aboveground weeds parts were harvested within three fixed 1 × 1 m quadrats in every plot, separated by species, enumerated, oven-dried at 75 °C for 48 h, and then weighed. Then, percent weed density and dry weight reductions were measured. The traits included ear length, ear diameter, ear number per plant, row number per ear, grain number per row, grain number per ear and canned grain yield. Data were analyzed using SAS v. 9.1 software (SAS Institute 2003). When significant differences were observed among treatments, mean comparisons were made using Duncan's multiple range tests (P < 0.05). Correlation coefficients between different traits were also calculated.
Results and Discussion
 Results showed that the canned grain yield, 1000 grain weight and number of grain per ear were reduced by weeds up to 73, 33 and 60%, respectively. The highest dry weights reduction obtained were of redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus) (75.8 and 59.5%), lambsquarters (Chenopodium album) (49.84 and 38.76%), barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli) (58.37 and 40.85%) and bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) (60.56 and 55.06%), so that applying of nicosulfuron )2.5 l ha^-1) and foramsulfuron + idosulfuron (2 l ha^-1) herbicides caused reduction in total dry weight of weeds in comparison with weedy treatment, and canned seed yield increased by nicosulfuron )2.5 l ha^-1) and foramsulfuron + idosulfuron (2 l ha^-1) herbicides in comparison to the acetochlor. Acetochlor was the weakest treatment in the reduction of weed density and dry weight. The highest canned grain yield (8.00 and 7.03 t ha^-1), number of row per ear (12.00 and 11.50), number of grain per row (25.00 and 24.75), number of grain per ear (299.00 and 285.50) and 1000 grain weight (325.06 and 308.44 g) were obtained in nicosulfuron )2.5 l ha^-1) and foramsulfuron + idosulfuron (2 l ha^-1) herbicides, respectively. Positive correlation was found between canned grain yield and 1000 grain weight (r = 0.83, p<0.05) and number of grain per ear (r = 0.96, p<0.05). Applying nicosulfuron showed a high efficiency as compared to the foramsulfuron + idosulfuron and acetochlor for weed suppression.
Conclusion
 It can conclude that nicosulfuron at 2.5 l ha^-1 showed the best performance for weed control, especially broadleaved weeds and were associated with the maximum sweet corn canned grain yield. Therefore, due to the restricted use of herbicide in sweet corn, the herbicide used in this experiment is not created serious injury in sweet corn at the recommended rate while effectively controlling weeds. Hence, utilization of this herbicide could be a favorable option in contemporary weed control programs for local or regional sweet corn growers.
Acknowledgements
 We would like to thank the School of Agriculture, Shiraz University for their support, cooperation, and assistance throughout this research.

Keywords

• Canned grain yield
• Foramsulfuron + idosulfuron
• Nicosulfuron
• Weed dry weight

20.1001.1.29808170.1401.36.3.7.8

Main Subjects

• Weed

---

References

1. Baghestani, M.A., Zand, E., Soufizadeh, S., Eskandari, A., PourAzar, R., Veysi, M., & Nassirzadeh, N. (2007). Efficacy evaluation of some dual purpose herbicides to control weeds in maize (Zea mays). Crop Protection 26(7): 936-942. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2006.08.013.
2. Bijanzadeh, E., & Ghadiri, H. (2006). Effect of seprate and combined treatments of herbicides on weed control and corn (Zea mays) yield. Weed Technology 20: 640-645. https://doi.org/10.1614/WT-05-105R1.1.
3. Bunting, J.A., Sprague, C.L., & Riechers, D.E. (2005). Incorporating foramsulfuron into annual weed control systems for corn. Weed Technology 19(1): 160-167. https://doi.org/10.1614/WT-04-063R1.
4. Chikoye, D., Ekeleme, F., & Udensi, U.E. (2001). Cogongrass suppression by intercropping cover crops in corn/cassava systems. Weed Science 49(5): 658-667. https://doi.org/10.1614/0043-1745(2001)049[0658:CSBICC]2.0.CO;2. ‏
5. Chikoye, D., Lum, A.F., Ekeleme, F., & Udensi, U.E. (2009). Evaluation of Lumax for preemergence weed control in maize in Nigeria. International Journal of Pest Management 55(4): 275-283. ‏ https://doi.org/10.1080/09670870902862693.
6. Chitband, A.A., Noghondar, M.N., & Sarabi, V. (2021). Yield of sweet corn varieties and response to sulfonylurea and mix herbicides. Advances in Weed Science 39: 1-11. https://doi.org/10.51694/AdvWeedSci/2021;39:00018.
7. Evans, S.P., Knezevic, Z., Lindquist, J.L., Shapiro, C.A., & Blankenship, E.E. (2003). Nitrogen application influences the critical period for weed control in corn. Weed Science 51: 408-417. https://doi.org/10.1614/0043-1745(2003)051[0408:NAITCP]2.0.CO;2.
8. ‏Hassannejad, S., & Porheidar-Ghafarbi, S. (2012). Introducing new indices for weed flora studies. International Journal of Agriculture and Crop Sciences 4(22): 1653-1659. http://ijagcs.com/.../1653-1659.pdf.
9. Kaukis, K., & Davis, D.W. (1986). Breeding vegetable crops. AVI Pub, Westport, Conn.
10. ‏Khan, I.A., Hassan, G., Malik, N., Khan, R., Khan, H., & Khan, S.A. (2016). Effect of herbicides on yield and yield components of hybrid maize (Zea mays). Planta Daninha 34: 729-736. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-83582016340400013.
11. Koeppe, M. K., Hirata, C.M., Brown, H.M., Kenyon, W.H., O'Keefe, D.P., Lau, S.C., ... & Green, J.M. (2000). Basis of selectivity of the herbicide rimsulfuron in maize. Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology 66(3): 170-181. ‏ https://doi.org/10.1006/pest.1999.2470.
12. Lair, K., & Redente, E.F. (2004). Influence of auxin and sulfonylurea herbicides on seeded native communities. Rangeland Ecology and Management57(2): 211-218. https://doi.org/10.2111/1551-5028(2004)057[0211:IOAASH]2.0.CO;2.
13. Lum, A.F., Chikoye, D., & Adesiyan, S.O. (2005). Effect of nicosulfuron dosages and timing on the postemergence control of cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) in corn. Weed Technology 19(1): 122-127. https://doi.org/10.1614/WT-03-276R2. ‏
14. Mohajeri, F., Honarmandian, M., Pourazar, R., & Shirali, M. (2010). The evalution of mechanical, chemical and integrated Zea mays weeds control in Ramhormoz. Journal of Weed Ecology 1(1): 67-76. ‏(In Persian).
15. Najafi, B., & Ghadiri, H. (2012). Weed control and grain yield response to nitrogen management and herbicides. Journal of Biological and Environmental Sciences 6(16): 39-47. ‏
16. Rahmani, A., Nasrullahalhosseini, S.M., & Khavari Khorasani, S. (2010). Effects of sowing date and plant density on morphological traits, yield and yield components of sweet corn (Zea mays). Journal of Agroecology 2: 302-312. https://doi.org/10.22067/jag.v2i2.7637.
17. ‏Sikkema, P.H., Kramer, C., Vyn, J.D., Kells, J.J., Hillger, D.E., & Soltani, N. (2007). Control of Muhlenbergia frondosa (wirestem muhly) with post-emergence sulfonylurea herbicides in maize (Zea mays). Crop Protection 26(10): 1585-1588. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2007.02.006.
18. Szumigalski, A., & Van Acker, R. (2005). Weed suppression and crop production in annual intercrops. Weed Science 53: 813-825. https://doi.org/10.1614/WS-05-014R.1.
19. Wilson, G.C., Soltani, N., Tardif, F.J., Swanton, C.J., & Sikkema, P.H. (2010). Control of volunteer cereals with post-emergence herbicides in maize (Zea mays). Crop Protection 29 (12): 1389-1395. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2010.07.020.
20. Zand, E., Baghestani, M.A., Soufizadeh, S., Eskandari, A., Deihimfard,, Pourazar, R., Ghazali, F., Sabeti, P., Esfandiari, H., Mousavinik, A., & Etemadi, F. (2006). Comparing the efficacy of amicarbazon, a triazoline, with sulfonylurease for weed control in maize (Zea mays L.). Iranian Journal of Weed Science 2: 59-83.
21. Zand, E., Baghestani, M.A., Pourazar, R., Sabeti, P., Ghezeli, F., Khayami, M.M., & Razazi, A. (2009). Efficacy evaluation of ultima (nicosulfuron+ nimsulfuron), lumax (mesotrion+ s-metolacholor+ terbuthlazine) and amicarbazone (daynamic) in comparison with current herbicide to control of weeds in corn. Journal of Plant Protection 23(2): 42-55. (In Persian with English abstract). https://doi.org/22067/jpp.v23i2.2549.
22. Zhang, J., Zheng, L., Jäck, O., Yan, D., Zhang, Z., Gerhards, R., & Ni, H. (2013). Efficacy of four post-emergence herbicides applied at reduced doses on weeds in summer maize (Zea mays) fields in North China Plain. Crop Protection 52: 26-32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2013.05.001. ‏