Evaluation of Linuron for Control of Weedsin Potato

Efficacy of linuron against weeds in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) was evaluated in three-year (1994–97) field experiment at Research Farm, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar. The field was mainly dominated by broadleaf weeds. Performance of linuron applied as post-emergence at 15 days after planting (DAP) was better against all broadleaf weeds as compared to its pre-emergence applications at respective doses. Crop phytotoxicity (Leaf chlorosis) symptoms were also observed when linuron was applied as pre-emergence which recovered later on. Linuron at 0.75–1.5 kg/ha applied 15 DAP provided satisfactory weed control (87–98%) and increased the tuber yields of potato to the level of weed free check during all the three years and was superior to pendimethalin 1.5 kg/ha and two hand weedings (20 and 40 DAP). Efficiency of linuron was not significantly improved when used as tank mixture either with paraquat or atrazine.