Title: Glyphosate-based herbicides on weeds management and maize performance under conservation agriculture practices in eastern Kenya

Authors: Alfred Micheni; David Mburu; Fred Kanampiu; Njue Mugai; Francis Kihanda

Addresses: Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 27-60100, Embu, Kenya ' Faculty of Agriculture, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O. Box 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya ' International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre, P.O. Box 1041-00621, Nairobi, Kenya ' Department of Horticulture, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O. Box 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya ' Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 27-60100, Embu, Kenya

Abstract: A three-season research study was conducted at Embu Agricultural Research Station farm to determine the effect of glyphosate-based herbicides on weeds management and maize (Zea mays L.) performance under zero-tillage conservation agriculture practice. Glyphosate herbicide sprays were prepared from Roundup Turbo product at the rate of 2.5 L ha⁻¹ and Roundup Weathermax at 1.5, 2.5 and 3.0 L ha⁻¹ rates. Significant (p ≤ 0.05) differences in weeds management were observed under the tested rate of Roundup Turbo compared to un-weeded control plots. The average grain yield from conventionally tilled plots was 3.6 t ha⁻¹. This did not differ significantly from those of herbicide-managed plots. Low-grain yield (0.1 t ha⁻¹) was observed from un-weeded plots compared to those from zero-tilled plots that had also exhibited significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher net-benefits. The study concluded that the application of herbicides improves weeds control and maize performance.

Keywords: zero tillage; conventional tillage; glyphosate herbicides; weed control; maize performance; net benefits; weed management; conservation agriculture; Kenya.

DOI: 10.1504/IJARGE.2014.064001

International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology, 2014 Vol.10 No.3, pp.257 - 268

Published online: 22 Oct 2014 *

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