Effect of Diclofop and Linuron on Rye Grass (Lolium multiflorum), Control in Triticale (X Triticosecale), Wheat (Triticum aestivum), and Rye (Secale cereale)

Abstract Annual rye grass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) is a serious and wide spread problem in cereal crops. A field experiment with a promising herbicide diclofop [(±)‐2‐[4‐(2,4‐dichlorophenoxy)phenoxy] propanoic acid] at 0.56, 0.84 and 1.12 kg ai/ha, in comparison to commonly used linuron [N'‐(3,4‐dichlorophenyl)‐N‐methoxy‐N‐methylurea] at 0.84, 1.12 and 1.41 kg ai/ha was conducted to control rye grass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) in triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and rye (Secale cereale L.). The herbicides were applied as soil‐incorporated, preemergence and post‐emergence. Results showed that diclofop is less phytotoxic than Linuron and the postemergence application of these herbicides was more phytotoxic on all cereal crops. Diclofop applied at 1.12 kg/ha, gave almost 100 percent rye grass control and produced 45 and 115 kg/ha higher grain yields in pre‐ and postemergence methods, respectively, as compared to the soil‐incorporated method.