Biotech Studies 2016, Vol 25, Num, 1     (Pages: 058-063)

Corn Varieties Influenced the Critical Period for Weed control in Corn

Nihat TURSUN 1 ,Mahmut Sami SAKINMAZ 2 ,Zekeriya KANTARCI 3

1 İnönü Üniversitesi, Ziraat Fakültesi, Bitki Koruma Bölümü, Battalgazi, Malatya
2 Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi, Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Kahramanmaraş
3 Doğu Akdeniz Geçit Kuşağı Tarımsal Araştırma İstasyonu, Kahramanmaraş
DOI : 10.21566/tarbitderg.280167 - Field experiments were conducted in 2013 and 2014 in the Agricultural Research Institute, Kahramanmaras, Turkey to determine the effects of three corn varieties (pop corn, dent corn and sweet corn) on the critical period for weed control (CPWC) in corn. A four parameter log-logistic model was fit to data relating relative crop yield to both increasing duration of weed interference and length of weed-free period. The relative yield of corn was affected by the duration of weed-infested or weed-free period, regardless of the corn varieties. Increasing periods of weed interference significantly reduced corn yields in both years. In the pop corn, the CPWC ranged from 145–530 GDD (V1–V8 growth stages) in 2013 and 156–550 GDD (V1– V8 growth stages) in 2014 based on the 10% acceptable yield loss (AYL) level. In the dent corn, the CPWC ranged from 228–640 GDD in 2013 (V2–V10 growth stages) and 200–521 GDD (V2–V8 growth stages) in 2014. Also in the sweet corn, the CPWC ranged from 258–520 GDD in 2013 (V3–V8 growth stages) and 217–512 GDD (V2–V8 growth stages) in 2014. The main practical implication of this study is that the weed management should be initiated around V2 stage of corn and maintained weed free up to V10 stage in order to prevent yield losses. Keywords : Corn varieties, period of weeded and critical weed-free period, timing of weed removal, competition