Pinoxaden: an alternate herbicide against littleseed canary grass (Phalaris minor) in wheat (Triticum aestivum) DHARAM BIR YADAV1, S.S. PUNIA* , ASHOK YADAV*, SAMUNDER SINGH* AND ROSHAN LAL

Two field experiments were conducted at Karnal, Haryana daring rabi 2005-06 and 2006-07 to evaluate the efficacy of pinoxaden against Phalaris minor in wheat. Pinoxaden 10 EC 40 g/ha + adjuvant 2,000 ml/ha and pinoxaden 5 EC (with built-in adjuvant) 50 g/ha reduced the dry weight of Phalaris minor to the extent of 92-99 and 89-98?,, respectively, and were at par with weed free checks during both the years. Consequently, Pinoxaden 5 EC 50 g/ha and Pinoxaden 10 EC 40 g/ha + adjuvant 2,000 mVha being at par with weed free checks produced grain yield of wheat to the tunne of 6.1-6.2 and 5.7-6.1 t/ha. Efficacy of pinoxaden 10 EC against P minor increased by about 70% with addition of adjuvant indicating that adjuvant is must with this for- . mulation. Pinoxaden 5 EC 50 g/ha was superior to lower doses, fenoxaprop and sulfosulfuron, however, it was at par with clodinafop during both the years. Both formulations of pinoxaden were ineffective against broad-leaved weeds. Maximum net returns (Rs 14,400-19,50O/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (0.74-0.91) was obtained under pinoxaden 5 EC 50 g/ha. There was no phytotoxicity on wheat and no residual toxicity on the succeeding rice crop.