Effect of Reduced Rates of Trifluralin in Integration with Living and Straw Mulch on Weeds and Yield of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

This research was conducted in order to evaluate the effect of reduced rates of trifluralin in integration with different living mulches, wheat atraw mulch and hand weeding on weeds, grain yield and yield components of sesame.

The experiment was conducted in Research Field of Agriculture-Jahad in Khoda Afarin County in 2019 as factorial based on randomized complete block design with three replications. The first factor was application of different rates of trifluralin at four levels including 0, 50, 75 and 100 % (recommended dose of 2 L/ha) of trifluralin and the second factor was different levels of non-chemical weed managements consisted of planting the living mulches of fenugreek, bitter vetch and pot marigold, application of wheat straw mulch, one time hand weeding and without non-chemical weed management (control).

The results indicated that the weed density and biomass were affected by herbicide dose, non-chemical weed management treatment and their interaction effect. Application of trifluralin in integration with straw mulch and hand weeding had more weed control efficacy compared with living mulch treatments. In pot marigold living mulch treatment, the grain yield was not significantly different between recommended rate and 75% of recommended rate of trifluralin.

Among the non-chemichal weed management treatments the application of wheat straw mulch and one time hand weeding had higher efficacy compared with living mulch treatments and could be used in integration with doses lower than recommended dose of trifluralin in sustainable weed management of sesame.