SummaryWeeds are a major constraint to increasing production of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) in Sudan, Field studies were conducted to determine the yield loss due to weeds, to identify the critical period of weed interference, to evaluate the activity of different herbicide mixtures in controlting weeds and their selectivity for lentil, and to evaluate different methods of weed control for developing an integrated weed management practice. At Rubatab. unrestricted weed growth accounted for up to 84% loss in yield. The critical period of weed control was between 2 and 4 weeks after sowing. However, a weeding regime experiment at Dongola, a cooler location with a longer growing season, indicated that the critical period was between 4 and 6 weeks after sowing. suggesting that the critical period might vary with the environmental conditions. The herbicides imazethapyr (0.05 kg a.i. ha‐1), terbutryn (1.0 kg a.i. ha‐1) and prometryn (1.0 kg a.i. ha‐1), each in a tank mixture with pendimethalin (1.2 kg a.i. ha‐1), were tolerated by lentil, controlled weeds effectively and significantly increased yields at Wad Hamid. Their efficacy in controlling weeds at Rubatab was low, however, because of the presence of Tephrosia apollinea (Del.) DC. and Melilotus indica (L.) All., which tolerated these herbicides. Efficacy was also reduced in heavier soils. One supplementary hand‐weeding at 4 weeks after sowing enhanced the performance of these herbicides under such conditions. A tank mixture of oxyfluorfen (0.24 kg a.i. ha‐1) with either terbutryn (1.0 kg a.i. ha‐1) or prometryn (1.0 kg a.i. ha‐1) also provided good weed control and increased yield of lentil at Wad Hamid. Application of a higher dose (1.5 kg a.i. ha‐1) of terbutryn and prometryn caused phytotoxicity. Irrigation before seed‐bed preparation reduced grass and broad‐leaved weeds by 58% and 40% respectively, and gave a 30% increase in grain yield over no irrigation. Pre‐emergence application of oxyfluorfen (0.24 kg a.i. ha‐1) and a supplementary hand‐weeding at 4 weeks after sowing gave excellent control of weeds and increased lentil yield by 57% over the weedy control. Thus, use of presowing irrigation, pre‐emergence herbicide and one hand‐weeding form an effective integrated package for controiling weeds in northern Sudan.
An outbreak of larvae and adults of a devastating moth was noted to be causing severe damage in tomato grown in greenhouses at Khartoum State, Sudan during June 2010. Symptoms included foliage mining and leaves drying. Photographs of symptoms and larvae and adults of the pest (and subsequently specimens) were sent to Russell IPM, UK and the Finnish Museum of Natural History for identification. The pest was identified as Tuta absoluta (Meyrick), (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). This is the first official record of T. absoluta in Sudan, based on surveys in tomato production areas in Khartoum, Gezira, Red Sea and North Kordofan States and eggplant and potato in Khartoum State. Severe yield loss due to the serious feeding damage on foliage and fruits infestation was reported on tomato and eggplant fields at Khartoum State.
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