Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of herbicides in the control of weeds in barley under irrigation.
Methodology and results: Two barley cultivars (Ketch and Berenice) and fifteen weed control treatments {12 herbicides, hoe – weeding at 4 and 8 weeks after planting (WAP), weed free (weeded weekly) and unweeded check} were laid out in a split – plot design with four (4) replications; assigning varieties in main–plots and weed control treatments in sub–plots. Among the herbicides evaluated, chlortoluron either applied alone (0.5 or 1.5 kg a.i/ha) or in combination with antor (0.5 + 0.5 and 0.5 + 1.0 kg a.i/ha) were most superior in controlling weeds. The maximum yields (2.09 and 2.99 t/ha) were recorded with chlortoluron + antor at 0.5 + 0.5 kg a.i/h and chlorbromuron + antor at 0.5 + 1.0 kg a.i/ha in 2001 and 2002, respectively. Methabenzthiazuron at both rates (1.0 and 1.5 kg a.i/ha) failed to effectively control weeds and did not increase crop yield when compared to the hoe – weeded check.
Conclusions and application of findings: The study results demonstrate that the herbicide chlortoluron alone at (0.5, 1.5 kg a.i/ha) or in combination with antor (0.5 + 0.5 and 0.5 + 1.0 kg a.i/ha) can be applied pre or post emergence to provide good weed management in irrigated barley to reduce the tedious, time – consuming and expensive manual hoe – weeding method that is commonly practiced.

Key words

Malting barley, weed control efficacy, grain yield

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