Chemical Weed Control in Saffron Fields of Iran

Field experiments were conducted to assess the efficacy of herbicides applied pre- (pre-forking) and post-emergence (after harvest) in spring and autumn during 2000-2002 in saffron fields of Mashhad and Gonabad located in north-eastern and eastern parts of Iran, respectively. In spring trials, ioxynil (750 g a.i. ha-1) and tribenoronmethyl (18.75 g a.i. ha-1) when sprayed at 6-8 leafy stage of weeds after saffron harvest were more potent than metribuzin. In autumn trials, weed control by ethalfloralin (1320 g a.i. ha-1) and trifloralin (960 g a.i. ha-1) when applied pre-emergence and before saffron flowering was promising but caused also some damages on saffron, leading to yield loss. Application of metribuzin (560 g a.i. ha-1) whether in spring or autumn, controlled weeds without any saffron injury. Tribenuron-methyl and metribuzin were the best treatments for weed control in saffron fields of Mashhad and Gonabad, respectively.

Keywords:

ethalfluralin , ioxynil , metribuzin , tribenuron-methyl , trifluralin