TECHNICAL BULLETIN 195
ISSN 0070-2315
POST-EMERGENCE HERBICIDES FOR FORAGE LEGUMES
GROWN FOR SEED PRODUCTION
P.G. Americanos and D.N. Droushiotis
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AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RESOURCES
AND THE ENVIRONMENT
NICOSIA
CYPRUS
OCTOBER 1998
Editor - ill Chief
Dr A.P. Mavrogenis, Agricultural Research Institute, Nicosia, Cyprus.
All responsibility for the information in this publication remains with the author(s). The use
of trade names does not imply endorsement of or discrimination against any product by the
Agricultural Research Institute.
2
POST-EMERGENCE HERBICIDES FOR FORAGE LEGUMES
GROWN FOR SEED PRODUCTION
P.G. Americanos and D.N. Droushiotis
SUMMARY
The possibility of controlling weeds with post-emergence herbicides in six forage
legumes was studied. After preliminary screening, the herbicides bentazon (1.0 and 1.2
kg a.i./ha + oil 1.5%. and oxyfluorfen 0.3 kg a.i./ha) were tested over a 3-year period.
Response of the six crops to these treatments varied and can be summarised as follows:
Cicer arietinwn
no treatment was safe
Lathyms ochrus
oxyt1uorfen 0.3 kg. and possibly bentazon 1.0 kg a.i.lha + oil
are safe
Lathyrus sativus
no treatment was safe, but bentazon + oil may be profitably
used, especially under conditions of heavy weed infestation
Pisum sativum
All treatments were safe, bentazon being preferable to oxyflu­
orfen
Vicia narbonensis:
No treatment was always safe but overall oxyfluorfen may be
recommended
Vicia sativa
Only oxyfluorfen was always safe.
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INTRODUCTION
The idea of growing forage legumes un­
der dryland conditions has, in the last few
years, gained favour in Cyprus. In the first
place it has been shown that incorporating a
legume in the rotation improved the yields of
follow-up cereals (Papastylianou, 1993).
Secondly, there is a need to substitute costly
soya imports as a source of protein for the
animal husbandry industry with locally
grown crops. Five potential crops are chick­
ling vetch (Lat)TUS sativus L.), common
vetch (Vida sativa L.), fodder peas (Pisum
sativum L.), narbon vetch (Vida narbonensis
L.) and ochre vetch (Lathvrus ochrus (L.)
A.P. de Candolle). Chickpeas, (Cicer arieti­
num L.), a food legume, is also a good rota­
tion crop and one that is often in short sup­
ply. necessitating supplementary imports.
However, weeds are a major constraint in
growing these crops. In earlier studies
(Americanos and Droushiotis. 1998), a num­
ber of pre-emergence herbicides were select­
ed for all six crops. But for reasons ex­
plained elsewhere (Americanos, 1977)
3
ing seasons. The crops wcre sown in latc
farmers are unwill ing to use pre-emergence
herbicides in dryland cropping. It is. there­
November - early Decemher in rows 20 CIll
apart using an experimental plot drill. Seed­
fore, highly desirable to find post-emergence
herbicides that will give satisfactory control
ing rates were 100 kg/ha for chick ling. and
of weeds wi thout undul y damaging the
narbon vetch. J 20 kg/ha for ochre \etch and
crops. With the ex.ception of peas, there is
chickpeas, 150 kg/ha for common vetch and
little or no information in the literature on
! 57 kg/ha for fodder peas. Fertiliser (100 kgl
the use of post-emergence herhicides in these
ha nitrogen and 100 kg/ha phosphorus) wa,,;
applied at sowing. The experimental design
crops. Bentazon alone (Ahmed and Farag.
was a split-plot replicated four times with
1l)91) or in admixture with t1uazifop-butyl
the herbicide treatments in the main plots.
(Schlinglotl, 1(91) gave satisfactory results,
was safe and led to yield increases. For Cieer
and the crops in the suh-plots. In each main
{/rieril7/1J7/ there are many reports on the safe
plot an area of 7.35 x I m was drilled with
use of graminicides such as fluazifop-hutyl
each crop. Ica\ing a metre wide alley he­
tween crop,,;. Herhicides were dpplied in
and haloxyfop-methyl but none for hroadleaf
weeds. For Vieio s{/fiWl. Balyan and Malik
February wilh a knapsach sprayer fitted with
~l flat fJn nozzle, delivering 500 I/ha. T'.',IO
( 1991 ) reported that methabenzthiazuron and
2A-D amine reduced both crop dry weight
untreated controls were included, one of
ai1d seed yield. while Dumonl and SerpeilJe
which was hand weeded once 5 to 6 weeks
( 1981) reported that hentazon destroyed the
after sowing. and thl' other wa.s the weedy
crop. No information is avallahle regarding
check. Application of herbicides was m~lde
when the majority of plants in each crop had
the use of post-emergence herbicides in
L{/f/IIT/I.\' oe!lru.\'. L. .\Ofi~'/IS or Vieio Il({fho­
It'ached the fol1O\ving stage: chickling vetch
lIens/s.
10 em. chickpe<ls 5 Clll, common vetch 10
The present study was ullllertaken in or­
cm ami hranching, rockier peas 20 cm and
der to explore the possihility of finding her­
hranching. narhon vetch 2(J em and branch­
hicides suitable for post-emergence use 111
ing, and ochre vetch 25 cm and branching,
fmage legumes.
Onc wl'ek after application and. ag~li\l. about
"t weeks later the crops were inspecll'd for
MATERIALS AND METHODS
symptoms of to\ icity. Harvesting was done
in Mayor June. depending on crop m<lturity.
A preliminary trial was laid out at Atha­
with an experimental harvester Important
lassa in December 1993 in which a number
weeds escaping control were recorded.
of post-emergence herbicides, or their com­
binations. was tested. The herbicides were
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
applied in early February 1994 vvhen both
crops and weeds were well established.
Effect of herbicides on the crops
Only bentazon at 1.0-1.2 kg a,i./h<J + ] .)<;(
ThL' three herbicide treatments had thl'
foll(\wing effects (determined visually):
oil, and oxyfluorfen at 0.3 kg a.i./ha
showed any promise and were, therefore,
selected for further testing. The mixture iso­
Bentazon (1.0 kg a.i./ha + oil 1.5 % )
Cieer uriefilll/III
EX1Clbi\'l~ damage to ~e­
proturon 1,2-1,5 kg + ioxynil 0,25-0.31 kg
vere thinning. no I\'CO\­
+ mecoprop 0,58-0.73 kg a.i./ha killed all
en
six crops. Oxyfluorfen at 0,45 kg a.i.l11a and
Luth
\"./(s
ochrus
S~verc thinning in 19 ' )5,
the mixture pyridate 0.75-1,0 kg + ioxymi]
extensi
ve damage from
0.15-02 kg + bromoxynil 0,1-0,132 kg a.i./
whieh there wa~ gl)od
ha either killed or severelY damaQ:ed the
recO\ery in 19lJ6. no ef­
crops. Finally, pyridate alone at 0, 9-~L35 kg
fecl in [l)lJ7,
a.i./ha did not contra] the weeds, while
Lut!t\TUS Suril'lIS
No evident damage.
causing variablc damage to most crops.
PiSlI1il ,\uril'/II/l
Some leaf discoloration
In the subsequent three seasons trials
in 1905,
Vieia lluruolll!llsi\
Slight to appreciable
were laid out in which only bcntazon and
damage (leaf scurching)
oxytluorfen at 0.3 kg a.i./ha were tested.
from which there was
The trials were canied out at Akhclia in
generally good recovery.
1994/95 and at Morocambos the two follow­
4
Vicio soti\'([
Extensive leaf scorching
and thinning in 19Y5
\vith littk recovery, evi­
dent damage with'full
recovcrv in lY06 and al­
most full rt'covery in
1997.
Bcntazon (1.2 kg a.i./ha + oil 1.5%)
Cieer arictilllllll
Severe thinning in J l)95
and 1907. practically
complete kill in 1906.
LuthYrus oehllll
Severe thinning in Il)l)5.
extensive damage from
which there was apprecia­
hie recovery in Il)96.
same damage \\ i th moder­
ak recovery in 1997.
Lothrrl/\ lotims
SOl11e stunting and delay­
ing effecl.
Pi,I/llIllmil'lflll
Some thinning in 1905.
othem ise no other evi­
dcnt ellecl.
Viciil l7i1r!Jollci/sis
Extensive damage (leaf
scorching) from which
there was moderatt' to
good recm ery,
ViC/o 10tl\'O
Extcnsi\'e leaf scorching
~lnd thinning with lillie re­
covery in IYI)5. and mod­
eratt' reco\ ery in j0()7.
moderate lear scorching
with full reClner) 111
19Y6.
Oxytluorfen (0.3 kg a.i./ha)
Ciccr orietill/IIII
Severe thinning in Jl)l)5,
vcry severe Ie,ll' scorch­
ing with sOll1e recovery
in ['l()6. I,~ss severe
scorching in IY l l7.
Lm!/\T/I\ oehms
Apprcciahle to exten­
sive leaf scorching with
almost full recovery in
all years.
Lm!I\TI/I.luti1'/{1
Severe thinning. and
stunling in 19Y5 with lit­
tle recovcry. very exten­
sive leaf scorch hut with
good recovery in 19Y6.
but nwderate recovery
in jYY7.
Pillflll lotil'lflll
Extensive leaf scorch­
ing. some thinning and
stunting in 1995 and
1996 with little or no re­
covery. hut with some
recovery in 1997.
Viciu
/7i1 r!lo/le/lsi.1
Extensive damage with
good recovery i11 !Y95.
slight damage and I'Llll
recovery in IlJY6. 110
damage i 11 IY97.
Some de by in I YY5. ap­
preciable lear "enrchillg
from which there was
full recoverv in IYY6
and good recovery i 11
19lJ7.
Effect on weeds
Weed infestation \Va" vcry heavy at Ak­
hcleia in I <)95, hut light to very light at Mor­
ocambos ill 1996 and 19Y7.
Bentazon + oil gave, at both rates, satis­
factory control of dicotyleJonous \weJs in­
cluding the important species Beto I'ulguris
L. ChCIlIlPlldilli/7 illbulII L.. Golillill ulhlrillc
L.. G lricllme Dandy. Mol\'o SliP .. POII(/\'er
r!locus L. and Sillopis on'cilsis L.. but did
not ha\'(~ any effect on graminae, the most
populou" of which were Plw/(ll'is sjiji. and
Al'('IW spp.
Oxytluorfen killed or severely damaged
all species mentioned above including the
graminaceous weeds.
Effect on yield
The effect of herbiciJe treatments and of
one weeding Oil the yield of the test crops i.'>
shown in Table I. Yields generally reflected
the effect of herbicides on the crop. except in
1995 \vhen hird damage masked .'>uch effects
in some crop.'>. In indi\'idual crops. treatment
effect on viekl was as follow.'>:
Cicer arietilllllll. All herhicide treatments re­
duced yield.'> significantly, with the higher
rate of hentanlO + oil resulting in almost
complete yield loss. Oxytluorfen, which was
found safe in pre-emergence application in
this crop (M ahoney. 1<)R I). wa" toxic when
applied post-emergence. The pre.'>cnce of
weeds also reduced yields by almost 4()c/~.
Singh c! oJ. (19X5) found that weeds in
chickpeas reduced yields by 4RI/( .
Lathyrus ochrus. The higher rate of benta­
+ oil significantly reduced yields. Oxy­
rIuorfen. from which recovery was always
good. resulted in yields comparable to those
of the weeded control. The presence of
weeds had no significant effect on yield.
ZOIl
5
(J)
Table 1. Effect of post-emergence herbicides and one hand weeding on the grain yield g/6 nt of fodder legumes
-
"------­
--­
Cicer arietinum
Herbicide
Bentazon+oil
Bentazon+oil
Oxytluorfen
Hand weeded control
Weedy control
Rate
(g a.i./ha)
1000+1.5%
1200+ 1.50/,
300
1995
1996
45a
17a
35'1
75a
60'1
1303bc
7d
763c
22gSa
1793ab
1997
15Sb
137b
643b
1457a
47Sb
Mean
Bentazon+oil
Bentazon+oil
Oxyflumfen
Hand weeded control
Wcedy control
Rate
1995
1996
1997
1000+1.5%
1200+1.5%
300
173'1
262'1
120a
413'1
63a
260a
265a
II0a
370'1
341'1
102a
105a
215a
460a
Mean separation by Duncan's New Multiple Range Test (p<0.05).
92a
-----
502b
53c
4S0b
1273a
777b
Lathl'rus sativlIs
1995
1996
1997
Mean
1995
1996
1997
Mean
S5b
47b
452ab
51Sa
257ab
1623ab
978b
1765'1
1732a
l707ab
ISlOa
1478a
I77Sa
IS07a
1765a
1173'1
S34b
1332'1
1352a
1243a
2395a
1920b
405d
2790a
1153c
972a
917a
935a
1317a
1122a
I943ab
2167ab
I lO5c
2253'1
1607bc
1770b
1668b
SI5d
2120a
I 294c
Vicia narhollcnsis
Pisum satil'Uln
Herbicide
---,.---­
Lathyrus ochrus
Mean
l78a
211'1
148a
414a
165'1
1995
1755ab
1512bc
1063d
1997'1
I24gcd
1996
1727b
1913ab
1910ab
2503'1
IS73ab
Vicia sativa
1997
Mean
211Sab
15S3b
26S5a
2157ab
250Sa
IS67b
1669b
IgS6ab
2219a
IS77b
1995
1996
1997
Mean
252c
330be
698ab
910a
53Sabc
1357a
1032a
1327a
963a
1027'1
l097ab
8J3b
983b
1053ab
159Sa
902a
725a
1003a
976a
1054a
Lathyrus sativus. All herbicide treatments
reduced yields significantly compared to the
weeded control, with oxyfluorfen causing the
heaviest losses. Weeds caused a 39% yield
reduction. Wall et al. (1988) reported yield
losses due to weeds of 54 to 95%. In this
crop, yield losses caused by bentazon + oil
were significantly lower than the loss caused
by weeds, suggesting that its use may be
profitable, especially where weed infestation
is heavy.
Pisum sativum. None of the herbicide treat­
ments had a significant effect on yield, even
oxyfluorfen, which caused damage from
which there was little to moderate recovery.
In vegetable peas, Americanos (1984) found
that bentazon was always safe and resulted
in slightly increased yields. In the present
study, fodder peas did not respond so favour­
ably to this chemical. Arvidson (1988) also
found that in some vegetable pea varieties
the effect of bentazon on yield was negative,
while Klaasen et al. (1988) reported that se­
lectivity of this herbicide in peas was gener­
ally good.
Vicia narbonensis: Bentazon + oil at both
rates had on average, a significantly negative
effect on yield, as also did the presence of
weeds. Oxyfluorfen, on the other hand, gave
yields similar to those of the weeded control.
Vicia sativa. None of the herbicides had a
significant effect on yield, although in 1995
both rates of bentazon + oil reduced yields.
Oxyfluorfen gave yields as good as the
weeded control. The results with bentazon in
the present study are at variance with those
of Dumont and Serpeille (1981), who report­
ed that this chemical destroyed the crop. The
presence of weeds did not appear to have any
effect on the grain yield of V. sativa. The
use, therefore, of post-emergence herbicides
may not be warranted except where weed in­
festation is heavy, as was the case at Moro­
cambos in 1995, the choice being oxyfluor­
fen rather than bentazon.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors wish to acknowledge the val­
uable assistance of Mr Ch. Theodorides, Mr
K. Kyprou and Mr G. Economides.
REFERENCES
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Americanos, P.G. 1977. Post-emergence control of
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ricultural Research Institute, Nicosia, lOp.
Americanos, P.G. 1984. Herbicides for peas. Tech­
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Arvidson, T. 1988. Weed control in different pea
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7
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