Department of Plant Science

Permanent URI for this community

https://ir.oauife.edu.ng/handle/123456789/232
Department of Plant Science

Browse

Browsing Department of Plant Science by Author "Akinyemiju, O. A."

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    Germination of Euphorbia Heterophylla L. and its Control in Cowpea (Vigna Unguiculata (L) walp).
    (Obafemi Awolowo University, 1986) O'Makinwa, Rufus Oyeniyi; Akinyemiju, O. A.
    In order to understand the influence of temperature and light duration on the germination of Euphorbia heterophylla L., freshly harvested and pre-chilled seeds of the weed were incubated in an illuminated cooled incubator for varying light and temperature regimes. Their germination was observed daily for 10 days. In another study aimed at identifying the most effective herbicides and herbicide combination and time of application for the control of E. heterophylla, separate screenhouse and field trials were conducted. In both the screenhouse, and field trials, two rates each of alachlor, cyanazine, acifluorfen and metobromuron + metolachlor were applied at different times after planting to control the weed in two cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) cultivars (Ife brown and TVx 3236) . Results of the germination study showed that the optimal conditions for germination of the freshly harvested seeds were 250C and 8 hours light duration. Prechilling was inhibitory to germination of heterophylla. In the screenhouse study, results showed that the pre-emergence application of various herbicides to suppress E. heterophylla was more effective than the post-emergence applications. Cyanazine and acifluorfen at both rates and at the various times of application were injurious to cowpea and E. heterophylla. Metobromuron + metolachlor at 2.5 kg a.i./ha was well tolerated by cowpea and suppressed the weed effectively when applied pre-emergence; its post-emergence application at 2.5 and 5.0 kg a.i./ha were lethal to cowpea, but suppressed E. heterophylla. Alachlor at 2.5 and 5 kg a.i. /ha applied pre and post-emergence were ineffective in the control of heterophylla. Results of the field experiment generally confirmed the screenhouse observation. In these series of studies it is clearly demonstrated that the control of E. heterophylla in cowpea in the field can be achieved by a pre-emergence application of 3 kg a.i./ha metobromuron + metolachlor.