Comparing the Efficacy of Micarbazone, a Triazolinone, with Sulfonylureas for Weed Control in Maize (Zea mays)

Six field experiments were conducted in 2006 in Iran to investigate the efficacy of different herbicide options for weed control in maize. Treatments consisted of entire weed-infested control, pre-and post-emergence applications of amicarbazone at 350, 525, and 700 g ai ha-1, post-emergence applications of nicosulfuron at 60 g ai ha-1, foramsulfuron at 450 g ai ha-1, rimsulfuron at 10, 11.25, and 12.5 g ai ha-1 plus non-ionic surfactant at 0.2% (v/v), nicosulfuron plus rimsulfuron at 26.25, 30 and 33.75 g ai ha-1 plus non-ionic surfactant at 0.5% (v/v), 2,4-D plus MCPA at 1080 g ai ha-1, pre-plant applications of atrazine plus alachlor at 800+ 2400 g ai ha- 1, respectively, and EPTC at 4920 g ai ha-1. Post-emergence herbicides were applied at three-to-six leaf stage of maize. The results indicated Correspondence to: Eskandar Zand, E-mail: eszand@yahoo.com 60 E.Zand et al that nicosulfuron, and rimsulfuron at the two highest doses were the most efficient herbicides for weed control. Foramsulfuron and EPTC also acted well in this respect. Application of these herbicides also led to high grain yield of maize. Amicarbazone when applied as pre- and post-emergence did not show a consistent response at different locations.