Effect of surfactant and different spray volumes on the efficacy of acetic acid based natural herbicide for controlling Imperata cylindrica and Sporobolus indicus

• Published in: Plant OMICS
• Main Author: Tse-Seng C.; Nasarrudin A.R.M.; Masilamany D.; Chai K.; Byung-Woo L.; Arifin M.F.; Sang-Sun L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Southern Cross Publishing 2022
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85129425426&doi=10.21475%2fPOJ.15.01.22.p3371&partnerID=40&md5=a24381b0aa917b519dff5aa6eba4d1b5

Weed-outTM is a contact post-emergence herbicide that contains the active component acetic acid. Our prior research showed that it was ineffective against grassy weeds with thick cuticle, small, and upright leaves. This study aims to determine different spray volumes of Weed-outTM applied with or without surfactant for controlling grassy weeds Imperata cylindrica and Sporobolus indicus in a ten-year-old mango farm. At the inter rows of mango trees, Weed-outTM was applied at spray volumes of 0, 2000, 4000, 6000, and 8000 L/ha with or without non-ionic surfactant (NIS). The efficacy of each treatment was assessed based on percentage of weed killed (0 to 100%) weekly for one month. Weed-outTM combined with NIS did not significantly increase weed control (p<0.05). After one week of treatment (WAT), application of Weed-outTM at 6000 and 8000 L/ha spray volumes produced excellent control (93-100 %) of I. cylindrica and S. indicus. At 4 WAT, the spray volumes still provided adequate weed control, although control was reduced to 63-75 %. At 1 WAT, Weed-outTM applied at 2000 and 4000 L/ha produced 75-91 % control of the weeds, but at 4 WAT, the efficacy of Weed-outTM was reduced to 22-56 % control. When Weed-outTM was applied at 2000 L/ha, S. indicus regrew at 3 WAT, but I. cylindrica recovered at 2 WAT. These findings suggested that application of Weed-outTM at 6000 and 8000 L/ha without NIS could effectively control I. cylindrica and S. indicus within 4 weeks. © 2022. Plant OMICS. All Rights Reserved.