M.A. Koshber1*, I.S. Abdallah1, S.A. El-Mahy1, V. Shaker2 and M.A. Zaki1
(1) Department of Economic Entomology and Pesticides, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, 12613 Giza, Egypt; (2) Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, 12613 Giza, Egypt
*Email address of the corresponding author: [email protected]
Management of weeds is a major challenge for tomato farmers in Egypt who favor herbicides as the most reliable and effective weed control measure. However, approved and recommended post-emergence herbicides for controlling particularly broadleaf weeds is limited. Two consecutive field experiments were conducted to assess the efficacy of metribuzin (840 ml/h), rimsulfuron (60 g/h), halosulfuron (48 g/h) and clethodim (1200 ml/h) against weeds in two tomato cultivars (GS 12 and 77 Mod). The herbicides were sprayed after transplanting, alone and in tank mixtures. Combined treatments at half recommended rate of metribuzin+rimsulfuron against broadleaf weeds, metribuzin+clethodium and rimsulfuron+clethodim for broadleaf and grassy weeds, showed up to 90% efficacy, resulting in an increase in the fruits yield of both cultivars. The two tomato cultivars were also tolerant to the herbicide mixtures. All herbicide treatments revealed an increase in the major fruit quality parameters (lycopene 69%, β-Carotene 73%, Vitamin C 32% and total soluble solids 10%) compared to untreated control. No residues (<0.01mg.kg–1) at harvesting time were detected in fruits or soil in all herbicide treatments, using GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS. Cost:benefit analysis showed also that combining metribuzin (420 ml/h)+rimsulfuron (30 g/h) gave the highest net return. These results suggested that the tested herbicide combinations could be safe, effective, and profitable weed control options for tomato farmers.
Tomato, herbicide mixtures, weed control, residues, yield, cost:benefit ratio.
https://doi.org/10.22268/AJPP-001492