Evaluation of different herbicides for protection of gladiolus (Gladiolus spp.) crop from weeds

A field experiment to study the effects of various pre- and post-emergence herbicides on weed infestation and on corm and cormel production in three gladiolus (Gladiolus spp.) cultivars was carried out during 1997-2000 at IHBT, Palampur. The main weeds infesting the experimental farm were Ageratum conyzoides, Gnaphalium peregrinum, Plantago lanceolata, Cynodon dactylon, Amaranthus viridis, Paspalum dilatatum, Portulaca oleracea, Euphorbia hirta, Oxalis corniculata, Trifolium repens, Imperata cylindrica and Digitaria adscendance. Of the various pre-emergence herbicides tested, atrazine and alachlor, both at 1.0 kg a.i./ha, significantly lowered the germination percentage of the gladiolus cormels. Pendimethalin 1.0 kg a.i./ha reduced the germination of the cormels to a lesser extent. Pre-emergence application of oxyfluorfen 0.25 kg a.i./ha gave the lowest weed count and weed dry matter accumulation, comparable with weed free treatment, at 90 days after planting (DAP). This treatment along with post-emergence application of glyphosate (1.0 kg a.i./ha at 90 DAP) gave best results at 180 DAP. The corm and cormel production was significantly higher in oxyfluorfen treatment. The results indicate that application of oxyfluorfen as pre-emergence herbicide followed by application of glyphosate at 90 DAP could be an effective treatment for weed control in gladiolus cormels.