‎‎Effect of some Herbicides in Controlling Broomrapes (Orobanche spp.) and Major Weeds in Food Legumes (Chickpea, Lentil and Faba Bean)

Abstract

The effect of four herbicides, namely: imazethapyr, pendimethalin, imazapic and aclonifen in controlling broomrapes (Orobanche spp.) and major weeds in food legumes was studied. The herbicides were used as mixture in pre-emergence treatment, followed by post- emergence spray of different herbicides. The major objective of some treatments was to determine the effect of a mixture of two herbicides (imazethapyr and pendimethalin), which was adopted as pre-emergence spray, followed by a second post-emergence spray of imazethapyr when the crop reached 8-12 cm high. Other treatments were used as potential alternatives. Results revealed the superiority of imazethapyr over the standard treatment followed at ICARDA (two post-emergence sprays of imazapic). Results also highlighted variability among the food legumes studied in tolerating the herbicides used, with faba bean being the most tolerant, whereas lentil was the most affected by the herbicides and the concentrations used. Results of seed yields revealed that the hand weeded control out yielded other treatments. Also chemical control treatments out yielded the un-weeded controls. The situation was rather different in faba bean where the double dose treatments, either spraying the mixture followed by aclonifen or spraying the mixture followed by imazethapyr gave high yield and was better than hand-weeded treatment, suggesting a positive action on yield. Furthermore, results of herbicides’ efficacy demonstrated the positive effect of pendimethalin in reducing weeds’ density.