Productivity of Some Eggplant Cultivars Under Different Systems of Weed Control

Abstract

Two field experiments were conducted in Ras Sudr Experimental Station, D.R.C. during 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 seasons to evaluate eight treatments for weed control, i.e. plastic mulch with two colors white or transparent and black and post-emergence herbicides, namely Clethodim 12.5 %EC, 1.0 L/Fed, Sethoxydim 12.5% EC, 1.5 L/fed. and Bentazon AS 48% (w v-1) 1.5 L/fed as a single and dual mixture on two eggplant cultivars (Keem and Petra). Fresh and dry weight of narrow and broad leaved weeds, growth characteristics total chlorophyll, dry matter and yield of eggplant were recorded at harvest stage. Obtained results showed that dry weight of narrow leaved weed were reduced with Clethodim plus Bentazon in dual mixture application by 80.6%, 82.6% also same treatment reduced dry weight of broad leaved weed by 72.7% , 80.7% in both growing seasons respectively, these results were true with Keem cultivar. The same trend was observed with Petra cultivar, with Clethodim with Bentazon in dual mixture reduced narrow leaves weed by 89.4% and 90.3%, also broad-leaved weed was reduced by 76.7%, 85.5% through the two growing seasons respectively. All characteristics of eggplant vegetative growth, yield and its components showed higher values with transparent plastic mulch than black plastic mulch treatment for Keem and Petra cultivars in both growing seasons. Plant height, number of branches, dry matter % and fruit weight gave the highest values with Clethodim with Bentazon treatment, while number of fruits per plant and total yield realized the highest values with Sethoxdim plus Bentazon when compared with other herbicides treatments. This treatment achieved 15.1-16.3 ton per fed. of yield with Keem cultivar and 23.9 and 24.2 ton per fed. with Petra cultivar in both growing seasons. On the other hand total chlorophyll was increased with control treatment when compared with other treatments for the two cultivars under study. .