Bio-efficacy of Propaquizafop 10% EC on Weeds and Yield in Soybean

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during kharif 2018 at the Experimental Farm, College of Agriculture, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, to evaluate the bio-efficacy and phytotoxicity of Propaquizafop 10% EC in soybean and its residual effect on succeeding mustard. The experiment was laid out in a randomised block design with seven treatments and three replications. Propaquizafop 10% EC was applied post-emergence at different doses, and weed populations, weed dry weight, weed control efficiency, soybean growth and yield, soil biological properties, and residual effects on mustard were assessed. Propaquizafop 10% EC at 750 ml ha⁻¹ consistently reduced the density and dry weight of major grassy weeds and recorded high weed control efficiency. This treatment produced a soybean grain yield of 2265 kg ha⁻¹, compared with 867 kg ha⁻¹ in the unweeded check, while hand weeding at 20 and 40 days after sowing produced the highest grain yield of 2456 kg ha⁻¹. No phytotoxic symptoms were observed at the tested doses. The measured bacterial and actinomycetes populations did not show pronounced adverse changes at harvest. The succeeding mustard crop showed no residual phytotoxicity, and germination, plant height and seed yield did not differ significantly among treatments. Under the conditions of this study, Propaquizafop 10% EC at 750 ml ha⁻¹ provided effective grassy-weed control while maintaining soybean crop safety and showing no evident adverse residual effect on the succeeding mustard crop.