Evaluation of different herbicides efficacy in cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) weed control

A field experiment was carried out in 2014 at Agricultural Research Station, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad to evaluate the use of herbicides in cumin weed control. The experimental design was a randomized block with 17 treatment and 3 replicates. Treatments included full season hand weeding, full season of weed competition with cumin, 2 times hand weeding in 25 and 45 days after cumin planting respectively and the application of trifluralin, metribuzine, oxiflurfen, pendimetalin, eradican, oxadiazon and haloxyfop-R-methyl herbicides at their recommended dose and their reduced dose application plus hand weeding at 45 days after cumin planting. Results showed that applied treatments affected cumin yield and weed control significantly (P≤0.01). Based on the results, the highest cumin seed yield (338 Kg h-1) was recorded in full season hand weeding treatment, that had not significant difference (P≤0.05) with applying of oxyfluorfen herbicide at recommended dose reduced dose (312 kg ha-1) and its reduced dose plus hand weeding at 45 days after cumin planting (321 kg ha-1) applying of pendimethalin herbicide (0.5 kg a.i. ha-1) plus hand weeding 45 days after cumin planting (310 kg ha-1). According to the results, application of oxyfluorfen herbicide at recommended dose and reduced dose plus weeding 45 days after cumin planting and the application of pendimethaline (0.5 kg a.i. ha-1) plus hand weeding 45 days after cumin planting have selective properties in cumin chemical weed control.