The study of integrated weed management (IWM), emphasizing the effect of seed priming on yield and yield components of maize (Zea mayz L.)

The implementation of an Integrated Weed Management (IWM) system is seen by many weed scientists as a means of achieving the goal of reducing herbicides use while still maintaining crop yield. In order to study of the effect of Integrated Weed Management (IWM) emphasized on priming on yield and yield components of corn (Zea mays L.) an experiment was carried out as Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications in Shahrood University of Technology. The treatments included weedy check, herbicide (nicosulfuron 80 g/ha), herbicide (nicosulfuron 40 g/ha), hand weeding at all growth season, hand weeding up to 3 and 6 weeks after emergence, nicosulfuron 40 g/ha +hand weeding up to 6 weeks after emergence, hydropriming, hydropriming+ nicosulfuron 40 g/ha, hydropriming+hand weeding up to 6 weeks after emergence. Results showed that hydropriming+hand weeding at 6 weeks after emergence and hydropriming+ nicosulfuron herbicide 40 g/ha and nicosulfuron herbicide 40 g/ha + hand weeding up to 6 weeks after emergence reduced weed density and weed dry weight as well as nikosolforon herbicide 40 g/ha. There was not significantly difference between IWM treatments, hand weeding during growth season and nicosulfuron 80 g/ha treatments for 1000-seed weight trait. Treatments emphasized on seed priming produced maximum biological yield. There was not significantly difference between hand weeding during growth season treatment, hydropriming+ reduced herbicide and hydropriming+hand weeding up to 6 weeks after emergence and nicosulfuron herbicide 80 g/ha for grain yield trait. Grain yield for weedy check treatment was 39.9 percent less than hand weeding treatment. Generally, IWM emphasized on seed priming reduced weed density and weed dry weight and produced grain yield equal with hand weeding treatment and nicosulfuron herbiside at 80 g/ha treatment.