Economic Feasibility of Chemical Weed Control in Soybean Production in Serbia

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and phytotoxicity of herbicides in combinations and to determine their economic feasibility in the soybean crop. The trials were placed at two locations, Pobeda and Budisava (Serbia), during 2016 and 2018, organized in a randomized block design with four replicates of all herbicide combinations (metribuzin + S-metolachlor; imazamox + oxasulfuron + typhenesulfuron-methyl; metribuzin + S-metolachlor + imazamox + oxasulfuron + typhenesulfuron-methyl; and bentazon + imazamox + typhenesulfuron-methyl). At the first location, 16 weed species were determined, while in the second location, 14 were determined. The highest reduction in the number of weeds was achieved at the first location, using a combination of herbicides metribuzin + S-metolachlor + imazamox + oxasulfuron + typhenesulfuron-methyl with a total efficacy that ranged from 96.98% to 97.40%. Only on the second location bentazone + imazamox + tifensulfuron-methyl showed passable phytotoxicity on soybean, during both years. Based on the established economic justification, in the combinations of metribuzin + S-metolachlor + imazamox + oxasulfuron + typhenesulfuron-methyl, yield was increased for 2350 kg/ha or 1.91 times more, according to the untreated variant at first location. The economic injury level at the most effective combination of herbicides was 52.70 weeds/m2.