Promotion of Germination in Teak (Tectona grandis Linn. f) Using Pre-Emergence Herbicides

Abstract

Studies were carried out to evaluate of different herbicides on germination, seedling vigour of teak seedlings and weed control efficiency in teak nursery. Three days after sowing, pre emergence herbicides viz. atrazine (50% WP) fluchloralin (45% EC) and Pendimethalin (30% EC) were applied in the teak nursery bed (10m2 ) as liquid spray at different concentrations. Thirty days after application of herbicides, observations were made on weed density and sixty days after application of herbicides, weed dry weight and number of teak seedlings produced in each treatment were reported. Five months after application of herbicides, the observations were made on root length (cm) ,shoot length (cm), number of leaves and number of secondary roots per seedling and dry matter production (g seedling-5) of teak seedlings. The results revealed that application of pre-emergence herbicides effectively controlled broad leaved weeds than grasses and sedges, and enhanced the germination and seedling growth of teak seedlings. Among the herbicides tried, the compatibility of atrazine was found to be better followed by fluchoralin. It is recommended that application of atrazine at 0.20% - 0.25% or fluchloralin at 0.15% could be adopted to enhance the germination and seedling vigour of teak seedlings and to control broad leaved weeds, in teak nursery.