Effect of some rice based herbicides on yield and yield components of maize

Field trials were conducted during 2001 and 2002 rainy seasons in the Northern Guinea Savanna zone of Nigeria, to evaluate the performance of some pre-emergence herbicides used in rice for weed control in maize. Weed dry weight was significantly reduced by cinosulfuron and the two hoe weedings in 2001 and butachlor in 2002. All the treatments with the exception of piperophos and cinosulfuron significantly increased crop vigour. Plant height and plant dry matter was increased by all the treatments with the exception of cinosulfuron. Cob length of maize was significantly increased by butachlor, oxadiazon and the two hoe weedings in both years. The grain yield of maize was significantly increased by all treatments except piperophos and cinosulfuron and the weedy check in both seasons. These trials show that butachlor and oxadiazon can be used for effective weed control in maize in Nigeria.