Evaluation of different weeding methods for groundnut in northern Iran

This study was carried out to investigate the energy consumption, work capacity, and operation cost of four weeding methods of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea ) in northern Iran. The weeding methods included two power tiller operated weeders (weeding using power tiller operated cultivator and rotavator at three forward speeds of 1, 1.5 and 2 km h -1 ), manual weeding by wheel cultivator, and traditional weeding method (hand weeding by trench hoe). The experiment was planed based on randomized complete block design (RCBD) with eight treatments and three replications. The results revealed that the highest work capacities at the first and second weeding stages averaged by 8.10 and 7.80 h ha -1 , respectively, and were observed at weeding by power tiller operated rotavator at forward speed of 2 km h -1 . The lowest energy consumption (307.8 MJ h -1 ) was obtained in weeding by manual cultivator. The results also indicated that power tiller operated rotavator at the forward speeds of 1, 1.5 and 2 km h -1 had the highest benefit/cost ratio of 2.06, 2.03 and 1.96, respectively. Thus the power tiller operated rotavator at forward speed of 1 km h -1 was the most suitable method of groundnut weeding.