EFFICACY OF DIRECTED POSTPLANT APPLICATION OF GLYPHOSATE WITH SHIELDED NOZZLE FOR CONTROL OF WEEDS IN THREE VEGETABLE CROPS1 Introduction

Vegetable is one of the most important commodities in the Philippines and different kinds of these plants are already grown commercially and are cultivated intensively in commercial farms and garden. The vegetable industry contributes > 30% to total agricultural production, and a major component of GDP (UNDP, 2006). Also the area growing vegetables between 1980 and 2005 grew steadily from 450,000 to 632,000 ha (1.3% annual growth) (FAOSTAT, 2007). Production volume has also grown steadily since 1980 from 3.5 to 5.8 mt (2.0% /year). Increase in vegetable production is slower compared to a 2.2% /year increase in population, as a result vegetables may be less available and affordable to the poor. That is the reason why it is important to increase vegetable production and minimize losses. Okra (Hibiscus esculentus L.), eggplant (Solanum melongena L.), and onion (Alium cepa L.) are considered one of the most cultivated vegetables in the country which covers 3,138, 21,233, and 8,884 ha respectively. Area of production is in Central Luzon, Ilocos, Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR), Southern Tagalog, Northern Mindanao and others. It is recognized that these three vegetable crops can incur losses caused by weed competition that vary greatly on environmental conditions. According to some studies, the largest input in pest management in vegetables is usually that of weed which approximately 20%
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A major thesis outline presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for graduation with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, major in Agronomy, Crop Science Cluster, College of Agriculture, University of the Philippines Los Baos, College, Laguna. Prepared under the supervision of Dr. Aurora M. Baltazar.
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to 80% of total production costs (Baltazar et al, 2000; Norsworthy et al, 2007). According to Seyama (1987) crop losses due to full-season competition of purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.) to okra and tomato are 62% and 53%, respectively. In onion, weed competition at any time significantly reduced onion yield (Sajjapongse, 1987). Thus by efficiently controlling the weeds, production cost can be lessen. Resemblance in morphology and physiology of vegetable crops and weeds that grow with them, particularly broadleaves, are the reason for stiff competition and limited herbicide selectivity to vegetable crops. Use of herbicides to control weeds is not very efficient because most available postplant herbicides for vegetables control only grasses. Also, herbicides that kill the weeds like broadleaves, causes injury to most vegetables since vegetables are also broadleaf. That is the reason why these herbicides are applied as pre-emergence like glyphosate which is also effective in controlling sedges, thus follow-up hand weeding and mechanical cultivation is needed which are more expensive and laborious. But if safe and effective way of postplant application method can be developed, use of glyphosate will efficiently control weeds in vegetable fields. Various field studies were already conducted for the efficient directed postplant application of glyphosate with shielded nozzle in onion, okra, and eggplant. Results showed that in three vegetable crops yield treated with directed post application of glyphosate using a shielded nozzle produces lower yields, apparently due to glyphosate injury. In okra and eggplant, low weed control costs compensated for yield reduction, giving similar or higher net incomes from farmers practice. But in onion, field studies conducted from 2001 to 2009 showed that

yields were lower when treated with glyphosate, even with the use of shielded nozzle due to herbicide injury (Ramos et al., 2003; Baltazar et al., 2010). Thus, this study is to be conducted in pots to observe individual yields of the individual vegetable plant when glyphosate is applied at postplant with the use of shielded nozzle and to determine the reason for the susceptibility of onion to improve its tolerance with the use of shielded nozzle. Objectives The general objective of the study is to assess the efficacy of directed postplant application with a shielded nozzle for control of weeds in okra, eggplant, and onion. Specific objectives are to 1) determine if the application of glyphosate with shielded nozzle will prevent injury in okra, eggplant, and onion, 2) to measure the injury of okra, eggplant, and onion if glyphosate is sprayed using a shielded nozzle, 3) observe morphological responses of okra, eggplant, and onion if glyphosate is sprayed using a shielded nozzle, and 4) measure the percent yield reduction due to glyphosate injury in okra, eggplant, and onion. Review of Related Literature Onion Onion belongs to the bulb crops, a group that includes onions (dry and green) belonging to the family of Alliaceae. It is one of the most important vegetable crops in the world with a total production of about 61 million tons (FAO, 2006). One of the main problems in onion field is the presence of weeds. Many reports showed that onions are poor competitors (Menges and Tamez, 1981; Dunan et al., 1996; Ozer et al.,
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1997; Kizilkaya et al., 2001; Ghosheh, 2004; Carlson and Kirby, 2005; Qasem, 2006; Smith et al., 2008). And this is because onion grows slowly and lack adequate foliage (Wicks et al., 1973). Weeds that are commonly present in an onion fields are Eleusine indica, Portulaca oleracea, Cynodon dactylon, Cyperus rotundus, Echinochloa colona, Ipomea triloba, Trianthema portulacastrum, Digitaria sanguinalis, Amaranthus spinosus, Cleome rutidosperma, and Commelina benghalensis ( Paller et al, 1979; Paller and Magsino, 1984; Moody, 1992). Weed management methods best suited for an individual grower will depend on several factors such as present weed species, crop variety, stage of growth of the crop, weed species, labor costs and availability (Bell and Boutwell, 2001); but weed control predominantly depend on herbicide use since onion has less competitive ability and are susceptible to mechanical practices. Herbicides that can control grasses and broadleaves with adequate selectivity to vegetables such as onions include DCPA, oxyflourfen, oxadiazon, sethoxydim, and fluazipop (Sanders, 2005;Gosheh, 2004; Westra et al, 1990). But most of these herbicides are applied preemergence and provide insufficient control of weeds for the whole season. Okra Okra is a popular and common vegetable in the market. In the Philippines, okra export contributes as much as 16 million pesos to Philippine economy annually. Like other vegetables crops, okra is also infested of weeds. Common weeds are Trianthema portulacastrum, Amaranthus spinosus, Ipomoea triloba; Ageratum conyzoides, Synedrella nodiflora and Cleome rutidosperma which are broadleaf, Cyperus rotundus or purple nutsedge is the most common sedge, and Cynodon dactylon, Eleusine indica, Echinochloa colona and Dactyloctenium aegyptium are the common grasses.
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Weed interference throughout the crops life cycle reduces okra fresh yield by 88% to 93% compared to the weed-free cop ( Adejoneo et al., 1989; Melifonwu, 1999). Eggplant Eggplant is a common vegetable grown in the tropics and subtropics. It is called brinjal in India, and in Europe aubergine. It is also considered one of the most nutritious and culturally important vegetables commonly consumed in South and South East Asia (Cornell University, 2010). And according to FAO (2007), Asia accounts for about 94 percent of the world eggplant area, with about 92 percent of world output where China is the worlds top eggplant grower and India is second (Srinivasan, 2009). While in the Philippines it is considered one of the major crops in the Philippines (BAS, 2005). One factor that decreases yield in eggplant is the infestation of weeds in the field. According to Morales-Payan and Stall (2001), 28% decrease in yield was observed when interference of purple nutsedge was allowed for the whole cropping season. Methods of Selective Application of Herbicide Most herbicides that can control grasses and broadleaves in vegetable fields without causing injury to the crop are commonly applied pre-emergence thus providing insufficient control of weeds for the whole season. Post emergence herbicides are also available like glyphosate, which is effective in controlling broadleaf as well as sedges. But glyphosate is broadspectrum and are not selective to vegetables and if this non-selective herbicide is sprayed postplant can greatly injure vegetable crops (Johnson and Mullinix, 2005). Thus, the only available control methods after emergence of crops are hand weeding and mechanical cultivation which are laborious, time-consuming and expensive. That is why many methods on selective postplant application have continued to develop.
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Different ways of application of glyphosate was already developed in order to minimize or avoid herbicide injury in vegetable crops. In some parts of the Philippines, farmers use a paintbrush to directly apply glyphosate to the weeds in between crop rows. While a glyphosatesoaked cloth was used in Indonesia to wipe weeds directly (Nielsen et al, 2005). But, these methods are not recommended because it is difficult to determine the correct herbicide rate and also expose the applicators hands to the herbicide. Another way of glyphosate application with less exposure in the hands of the farmers is the use of ropewick applicator wherein the herbicide diluted in water is contained in a tubular handle and fed to the rope which is wiped against the weeds (Nielsen et al, 2005; Towson and Butler, 1990). Almost similar method of selective application of herbicide has been developed which is the use of roller applicator or the recirculating sprayer that utilizes a carpeted surface to apply herbicide on top of the weeds growing above the crop without causing injury to the crop plants. (Mayeux, Jr. and Crane,1983; Biniak and Aldrich, 1986). But availability of equipment is a problem to particular areas. Different apparatuses were also been developed for selective application of post emergence herbicide such as use of photoelectrics and radiation. Through photoelectrics, weeds can be sensed and differentiated using a modulated, NIR light source and phototransistor receiver and a logic circuit placed at the spray nozzle to control the spraying of herbicide (Shearer and Jones, 1991) while with the use of radiation, two lights with different wavelength are emitted and a signal will indicate if the object is a weed or not. Then a controller will analyze the signal and will activate a device, assuming a weed is detected, that would be used to control the detected weed ( Beck and Vyse, 1993). But these apparatuses were more complicated to use and less affordable to a small-scale farmer.
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In southern U.S., non-selective herbicides are commonly applied with the use of shielded nozzle for weed control in vegetable (Sanders, 2003; Norsworthy and Smith, 2005). And field results showed that use of shielded nozzle resulted to higher yields compared from using a shielded sprayer or a paintbrush (Ramos et. al, 2003). But in onion sprayed with glyphosate using shielded nozzle yields obtained are lower due to herbicide injury.

Methodology Time and Place The experiment will be held at green house facilities of Crop Science Cluster, University of the Philippines Los Baos, Laguna from May to August 2011.The study is to evaluate postplant application of glyphosate for weed control in eggplant, okra, and onion. Study 1: Evaluation of postplant application of glyphosate for weed control in eggplant Forty pots will be filled with sandy-loam soil. Two to three seeds of eggplant will be sown in each pot. The soil will be fertilized following the recommended rate of 145-45-85 NPK. Basal application will consist of all the P2O5, 25% N, and 60% K2O and followed by two applications of N and K2O at 20 and 40 DAE. Watering will be done every 7-14 days. The treatments will consist of glyphosate application at 14-21 DAS with use of shielded nozzle at different rates as 1) 0 kg ai/ha (control), 2) 0.5 kg ai/ha, 3) 0.75 kg ai/ha, 4) 1.00 kg ai/ha, and 5) 1. 5 kg ai/ha. Study 2: Evaluation of postplant application of glyphosate for weed control in okra

Forty pots will be filled with sandy-loam soil. Two to three seeds of okra will be sown in each pot. The soil will be fertilized with complete fertilizer (14-14-14) at 10 g/pot for basal application and urea (46-0-0) at 10g/pot one month after planting. Watering will be done every 7-14 days. The treatments will consist of glyphosate application at 14-21 DAS with use of shielded nozzle at different rates as 1) 0 kg ai/ha (control), 2) 0.5 kg ai/ha, 3) 0.75 kg ai/ha, 4) 1.00 kg ai/ha, and 5) 1. 5 kg ai/ha. Study 3: Evaluation of postplant application of glyphosate for weed control in onion Forty pots will be filled with sandy-loam soil. Two to three seeds of onion will be sown in each pot. The soil will be fertilized following the recommended rate of 100-60-60 NPK. The basal application will consist of all P2O5 and 50% N and K2O and followed by two applications of 50% N and K2O at 30, 45, and 60 DAE. Watering will be done weekly and will stop at 2-3 weeks before harvest, or when 20-30% of the tops fold over. The treatments will consist of glyphosate application at 14-21 DAS with use of shielded nozzle at different rates as 1) 0 kg ai/ha (control), 2) 0.5 kg ai/ha, 3) 0.75 kg ai/ha, 4) 1.00 kg ai/ha, and 5) 1. 5 kg ai/ha.

Herbicide application

In all studies, glyphosate will be applied using a knapsack sprayer with a shielded nozzle. The herbicide will be sprayed directed in between of the pots to prevent the spray from reaching the plants. Data to be collected Data to be collected are 1) percent injury of the treated crops weekly starting from 1 WAT to 30-45 DAS using a scale of 0% for no injury and 100% for complete kill, 2) plant height from 0 WAT until harvest, 3) fresh weight of roots, stems, shoots, and fruits upon harvest, and 4) percent yield reduction for each treatment. Percent yield reduction will be measured using the equation: %yield reduction = Yield of untreated crop Yield of treated crop__ Yield of untreated crop x 100%

Statistical Design and Analysis In all studies, treatments will be laid in completely randomized design with four replicates. Data will be analyzed statistically using ANOVA (Proc GLM). Treatments will be analyzed using LSD at 5% level of significance. Literature Cited Adejonwo, K.O., M.K. Ahmed, S.T.O. Lagoke and S.K. Karikari. 1989. Effect of variety, nitrogen and period of weed interference on growth of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus). Nigerian Journal of Weeds Science 2, 21-27. Baltazar, A.M., E.C. Martin, M.C. Caasimero, F.V., S.R. Obien, and S.K. De Datta. 2000. Reducing herbicide use with agronomic practices in onion (Alium cepa) grown after rice (Oryza sativa). Philippine Agriculture Scientist 83 (1);34:44. Baltazar, A.M., J.M. Ramos, E.C. Martin, and F.V. Bariuan.2010. Efficacy of directed postplant application of glyphosate with a shielded nozzle for control of weeds in onion, okra, and eggplant (to be pulished in Philippine Agriculturist) Bell, C.E., B.E. Boutwell 2001. Combining Bensulide and Pendimethalin Controls Weeds in Onions. California Agriculture, January-February, pp. 35-38.
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Biniak, B. M. and R. J. Aldrich.1986.Reducing Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti) and Giant Foxtail (Setaria faberi) Seed Production with Simulated-Roller Herbicide Applications. Weed Sci. 34:256-259 Carlson HL, Kirby D (2005). Effect of Herbicide Rate and Application:Timing on Weed Control in Dehydrator Onions. University of Florida, Intermountain Research and Extension Center, Number, 115: p. 4. Dunan CM, P. Westra,F. Moore, and P. Chapman 1996. Modelling of the effects of duration of weed competition, weed density and weed competitors on seeded irrigated Onion. Weed Res. 36(3): 259-269 FAO (2006). FAO Statistics Division, http://faostat.fao.org/default.aspx Ghosheh HZ (2004). Single Herbicide Treatments for Control of Broadleaved Weeds in Onion (Allium cepa). Crop Prot. 23: 539-542 Johnson, G. I., K. Weinberger, and M. Wu.2008. The Vegetable Industry in Tropical Asia: The PhilippinesAn Overview of Production and Trade.AVRDC The World Vegetable Center Johnson, W.C. III and B.G. Mullinix Jr. 2005. Effect of herbicide application method on weed management and crop injury in transplanted cantaloupe production. Weed Technology 19:108-112. Kizilkaya A, H. Onen, Z. Ozer 2001. Sogan Verimine Yabanc Ot Rekabetinin Etkileri zerine Ara_trmalar (Researches on the Effects of Weed Competition on Onion Yield). Trkiye Herboloji Dergisi, J. Turk. Weed Sci. 4(2): 58-65. Mayeux, H.S., Jr. And R.A. Crane.1983.The brush roller; An experimental herbicide Applicator with potential for range weed and Brush Control. Society for Range Management 5(2):53-56. Melifonwu, A.A. 1999. Effect of varying periods of weeed interference on yield of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) in the humid tropical forest zone of south-eastern Nigeria. Nigerian Agricultural Journal 30, 115-121. Menges, R.M. and S. Tamez.1981. Response of onion (Allium cepa) to annual weeds and postemergence herbicides. Weed Sci. 29(1): 74-79. Moody, K. 1992. Weeds of cropped areas in the Philippines. Philipp. J. Weeds Sci.19: 31-78. Nielsen, O.K., D. Chickoy and J.C. Streibig. 2005. Efficacy and costs of handheld sprayers in the subhumid savanna for cogongrass control. Weed Technology 19:56-574 Norsworthy, J.K., and J.P. Smit. 2005. Tolerance of leafy greens to preemergence and postemergence herbicides. Weed Technology 19:724-730. Ozer Z, Kadioglu , H. Onen, N. Tursun 1997. Herboloji (Yabanc ot Bilimi), (Weed Science) Gaziosmanpa_a niversitesi, Ziraat Fakltesi Yaynlar NoKitaplar Serisi, 20(10): p. 388 Paller, E. C. and G.Gl. Magsino. 1884. Field evaluation of chemical and physical weed control methods in transplanted onions. Weed Sci. Annu. Report 1980-81. Univ. Philipp. Los Baos, College, laguna, Philipp. P. 86-89.
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Paller, E.C., F.V. Valente and A.M. Baltazar. 1979. Weed districution in cabbage. Weeds Sci. Annu. Report 1978-1979. Univ. Philipp. Los Baos, College, Laguna, Philipp. p.80. Paller, E.C., M.M. Guantes, J.M. Soriano, and M.C. Casimero, A.M. Mortimer and S.K. De Datta. 2003. Efficacy of selective postplant application methods of glyphosate against weeds in onion. Proc. 19th Asian-Pacific Weed Science Society conference. Manila, Philippines. March 17-21, 2003 Qasem JR (2006). Chemical Weed Control in Seedbed Sown Onion (Allium cepa L.). Crop Prot. 25: 618-622. Ramos, J.M., A.M. Baltazar, E.C. Martin, M.C. Casimero, A.m.Mortimer and S.K. De Datta. 2003. Efficacy of selective postplant application methods of glyphosate against weeds in onion. Proc. 19th Asian-Pacific Weeds Science Society conference. Manila, Philippines. March 17-21, 2003.p. 709-712. Sanders, D.C., Ed. 2003. Pages 222-223 in Vegetable Crop Handbook for the southern United States 2006. Lenexa, KS:Vance Smith R, S.A. Fennimore, S. Orloff, G.J. Poole 2008.Bell, CE., D.W. Cudney, S.A. Fennimore, S. Orloff 2002.IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Onion and Garlic. University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Publication, p. 3453. Sprankle, P., W.F. Meggitt, and D. Penner. 1975. Absorption, action and translocation of glyphosate.Weed Science 23:235-240. Townson, J.K. and R. Butler. 1990. Uptake, translocation, an dphtotoxicity of imazapyr and glyphosate on Imperata Cylindrica: effect of herbicide concentration, position of deposit and two methods of direct contact application. Weed Res. 30:235-243. Uygur,S., S. Grbz and F. N. Uygur. 2010. Weeds of onion fields and effects of some herbicides on weeds in Cukurova region, Turkey.Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, ukurova University, 01330 Adana/Trkiye. Westra, P., C.H. Pearson, and R Ristan. 1990. Control of venice mallow (Hibiscus trionium) in corn (Zea mays) and onion (Alium cepa). Weed Technology 4:500-504. Wicks GA, D.N. Johnston, DS Nuland, E.J. Kinbacher 1973. Competition between annual weeds and sweet Spanish onions. Weed Sci. 21: 436-439. William, R.D. and G.F. Warren. 1975. Competition between purple nutsedge and vegetables. Weed Sci. 23;317-323.

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