Efficacy of Pre-emergence Herbicides for the Control of Major Weeds in Maize ( Zea mays L.) at Bako, Western Oromia, Ethiopia

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate efficacy of pre-emergence herbicides against major weeds in maize at Bako during the main rainy season of 2016/17. The trial was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replication, and consisted of five treatments including pre-emergence application of Lunar 537.5 SE at 3L/ha, Venus 500 SC at 6L/ha and Prima gram dual Gold 660sc at 3 L/ha, and two times hand weeding at 25 and 40 DAS and weedy check for comparison. Application treatments boosted maize grain yield over weedy check plots there by reducing weed infestation. Analysis of variance showed statistically significance difference (P < 0.01) for total weed density (m -2) and dry weight (gm. -2). Significantly the minimum density (8.5 m -2) was observed in plots treated two times hand weeding which was statistically similar with evaluated herbicides. In contrary, the highest (39.1 m -2) was observed in weedy check plots. All the herbicide treatments provided significant control of weeds causing significant reduction in density of target weed flora and also significantly improved the grain yield in comparison with the weedy check. However, no crop injury was observed in any of the herbicide treatments. The maximum grain yield (57.57 qt ha -1) was obtained from Lunar 537.5 SE at 3L/ha followed by two times hand weeding (57.08 qt ha -1) and Venus 500 SC at 6L/ha (54.03 qt ha -1) having the yield advantage of 67.92, 67.64 and 65.82 respectively, whereas; the minimum (18.47 qt ha -1) was from weedy check plots. In general application pre-emergence herbicides effectively control weeds in maize and reduce yield losses. Thus, the newly tested pre-emergence herbicides (Lunar 537.5 SE at 3L/ha and Venus 500 SC at 6L/ha) alone could be option to major weeds and increase maize grain yield.