The Comparison of Effect of Several Soil-Applied Herbicides on Potato (Solanum tuberosum) Weed Control and Potato Yield

To study the effect of Ethalfluralin, Trifluralin and Pendimethalin on weed control in potato fields and potato yield, a field expriment was carried out in the Ardabil Agriculture and Natural Resources Resarch Station in 2014. Dose- response experiment was performed in an Agria potato cultivar field in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Experimental treatments were: Trifluralin and Etalfluralin at 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 L/ha, Pendimethalin at 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 6 L / ha and two control treatment (weedy and weed free). Weed samplings carried out at 20 and 60 days after treatment. The maximum total weed density reduction was observed 20 days after 6 lit/h Pendimethalin application. After that, 4 lit/h Etalfluralin was at 60 days after spraying, had the greatest effect on reducing the total weed density (94.4%). Ethalfluralin at 4 lit/ha dose led to the maximum reduction total weed biomass. The application of 4, 6 and 4 L /ha Ethalfluralin, Pendimethalin and Trifluralin respectively reduced the biomass of weeds over a period of 20 days after treatment by more than 90 percent. The maximum mean tuber weight and total tuber yield were achieved by 4 L /ha Pendimethalin that had not significant differences with 6, 2 and 4 L /ha Pendimethalin, Trifluralin and Ethalfluralin, respectivally.