Effects of Integrated Weed Managements on Weed Population and Forage Yield of Corn (Zea mays L.)

The effect of integrated management of weeds on yield of corn forage was examined in a factorial split experiment in 2012-2013 in Khusf, Iran on the basis of a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications in which the main plot was devoted to cultivator at two levels of cultivator use and disuse and the sub-plots were devoted to density at two levels of 100000 and 150000 plants.ha-1 and to reduced (recommended) dosage of Lumax herbicide at four levels of 0, 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5 L.ha-1. It was found that the increase in density from 100 000 to 150000 plants.ha-1 increased total dry yield by 8.7%. Means comparison for the interaction between cultivator and herbicide revealed that when cultivator is applied, the treatment of only 1.5 L.ha-1 herbicide resulted in total dry yield and total fresh yield of forage of 23020 and 103705 kg.ha-1 which were 66.2 and 65.8% higher than that under the treatment of cultivator with no herbicide usage. Cultivator was applied, the treatment of 1.5 L.ha-1 herbicide decrease 98 and 92% of dry weight and the total number of weeds, respectively .Therefore, given the fact that sustained farming is aimed at reducing the application of chemicals in farming systems, the rate of using Lumax can be reduced by 66.6% by integrated management of weeds. Thus, the adverse effects of herbicides on environment and the resistance of weeds to herbicides can be reduced.