Evaluation of the potato yield loss caused by weeds and the efficiency of hand weeding and chemical control in Ardebil

To evaluate the yield loss of potato crop caused by weeds in the Ardebil potato fields and to compare the efficiency of the traditional hand weeding and chemical control, an experiment, using a randomized complete block, was conducted in two main potato producing regions of Ardebil (Niar and Agbilagh) in 1997. Three treatments that were included in the experiment were: no control (check), three time hand weeding during the growing season, and chemical control using Sencor (Metribuzin WP 70%) as pre-emergence herbicide. Analysis of variance indicated that there were a significant difference at 1% level between the treatments in both regions. The tuber yield of chemical control treatment was 32% and 10% lower than hand weeding in Niar and Agbilagh, respectively. The tuber yield of no control (check) treatment was also 63% and 43% lower than hand weeding in Niar and Agbilagh, respectively. Combined analysis of variance revealed that there was a significant difference between two locations, treatments and the interaction of treatments locations. The mean tuber yield of hand weeding, chemical control and no control (check) were 29.8, 23.46 and 13.90 t/ha, respectively. It was also found that the tuber yield of hand weeding and chemical control treatments were higher by 15.90 and 9.56 t/ha respectively in comparison with no control (check). The mean tuber yield in no control (check) was 53% lower than the hand weeding treatment.