Effect of Alachlor Herbicide and Transparent Polyethylene Film Mulching on Growth and Yield of Peanuts

Herbicidal effects of alachlor to peanuts were observed under different formulations (granule containing 5.0% a.i. and emulsifiable concentrate containing 43.7% a.i.) and levels (granule with 3 and 6kg/l0a and emulsion with 300㏄/l0a) with the transparent polyethylene (P.E.) film mulching. Formulations and levels of alachlor did not affect emergence ratio, time of emergence and flowering, and early growth of peanuts such as the number of leaves and branches, length of branches; and shoot dry weight at 20 and 40 days after planting, but early growth was enhanced by P.E. film mulching. At harvest, weed dry weight was positively correlated with length of branches, but negatively correlated with the number of branches and shoot dry weight. Acalyphu australis and Chenopodium album were not effectively controlled by the application of alachlor and growth of C. album was retarded under P.E. film mulching. Portulaca oleracea and Digitaria sanguinalis were effectively controlled by alachlor, but they were not affected by P.E. film mulching. At harvest, D. sanguinalis, A. australis, and Echinochloa crus galli were predominant weeds in all treatments; persistence of alachlor may not be long enough to control even sensitive weeds to alachlor such as D, sanguinalis in the field of peanuts of which canopy development was relatively slow. Weed dry weight at harvest was negatively correlated with the number of pods and grain yield of peanuts. Among the yield components only the number of nods per plant was positively correlated with grain yield. Hana weeding after July 1 increased grain yield of Peanuts even in alchlor applied plots.