EFFECT OF PRE-EMERGENCE HERBICIDES AND THEIR COMBINATIONS ON WEEDS INFESTATION YIELD COMPONENTS AND YELD OF CHICKPEA (Cicer arietum L.) AT EZHA WOREDA GURAGE ZONE, SOUTH ETHIOPIA.

Abstract

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is one of the most important pulses cultivated in Ethiopia. Chickpea is the third important food legume both in area and production after common beans and faba beans in Ethiopia. This is below the potential yield of chickpea at research center as well other major chickpea producing zones in Ethiopia. Among the factors responsible for low yields in chickpea; weeds is the major one. Hence, field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of herbicides and their combination on yield component and yield of chickpea (Cicer arietum L.). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design and replicated three times. Pre-emergence herbicides (Pendimethalin and S-metolachlor) were applied alone at different rate, their reduced dose combination with herbicides as well as supplemented with one hand weeding, only one hand weeding, and two hand weeding; completely weed free and weedy treatments. Applying the herbicides alone at different rate reduced density and dry matter of the weeds in chickpea as compared with control. The result indicated S-metolachlor was the most effective herbicide for controlling weed species presented in the experimental site as compared with Pendimethalin in relation with application at different rate alone. Among the herbicides applied S-metolachlor at 1.0kg ha-1 supplemented by one hand weeding at five weeks after emergence gave the highest yield components and yield as well as net benefit of chickpea (Cicer arietum L.). However; weed free, Hand weeding at 2 and 5 WAE treatments was the most effective treatment for controlling the weeds and increasing the chickpea yield compared with other treatments. But weed control through hand weeding is costly and non-available at critical time. Therefore; it is suggested when labours are not easily available, applying S-metolachlor at 1kg ha-1 supplemented by one hand weeding at five weeks after emergence is the best option of effective chickpea production. However, further study has to be done under different seasons and locations to exploit the recommendation of the present stud