Micheni A., Mburu D., Kanampiu F., Mugai N., Kihanda F.
Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 27-60100, Embu, Kenya; Faculty of Agriculture, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O. Box 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya; International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre, P.O. Box 1041-00621, Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Horticulture, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O. Box 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya
Micheni, A., Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 27-60100, Embu, Kenya; Mburu, D., Faculty of Agriculture, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O. Box 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya; Kanampiu, F., International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre, P.O. Box 1041-00621, Nairobi, Kenya; Mugai, N., Department of Horticulture, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O. Box 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya; Kihanda, F., Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 27-60100, Embu, Kenya
A three-season research study was conducted at Embu Agricultural Research Station farm to determine the effect of glyphosate-based herbicides on weeds management and maize (Zea mays L.) performance under zero-tillage conservation agriculture practice. Glyphosate herbicide sprays were prepared from Roundup Turbo product at the rate of 2.5 L ha-1 and Roundup Weathermax at 1.5, 2.5 and 3.0 L ha-1 rates. Significant (p ≤ 0.05) differences in weeds management were observed under the tested rate of Roundup Turbo compared to un-weeded control plots. The average grain yield from conventionally tilled plots was 3.6 t ha-1. This did not differ significantly from those of herbicide-managed plots. Low-grain yield (0.1 t ha-1) was observed from un-weeded plots compared to those from zero-tilled plots that had also exhibited significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher net-benefits. The study concluded that the application of herbicides improves weeds control and maize performance. Copyright © 2014 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.