Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science (한국초지조사료학회지)

The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science (한국초지조사료학회)
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Effects of Chemical Foliar Herbicide on Weed Control in Alfalfa Field

  • Seung Min Jeong (Grassland & Forages Division, National Institute of Animal Science) ;
  • Ki Won Lee (Grassland & Forages Division, National Institute of Animal Science) ;
  • Hyung Soo Park (Grassland & Forages Division, National Institute of Animal Science)
  • Received : 2024.08.20
  • Accepted : 2024.09.25
  • Published : 2024.09.30
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Abstract

This study aims to contribute to resolving the critical issue of weed management in newly established alfalfa fields, study has been conducted on effective herbicide use. The study evaluated the impact of various domestically available foliar herbicides on alfalfa phytotoxicity, weed control, yield, and nutritive value. The experiment was designed in a randomized complete block design with four treatments. Alfalfa 'SW 5615' seeded in the spring of 2024 on a 1 ha field (March 18), with herbicide treatments including fluazifop-P-butyl (FPB), bentazone (BEN), and a mixture of these herbicides (MIX). Herbicide efficacy, alfalfa yield, and nutritive value were assessed 30 days post-application. Results indicated that the MIX treatment achieved superior weed control comparable to hand weeding (HW), although it exhibited higher phytotoxicity, requiring extended recovery periods. While MIX led to lower overall yield, it enhanced alfalfa purity, resulting in higher crude protein (CP) content and relative feed value (RFV) compared to other treatments. The study concludes that despite the potential for increased phytotoxicity, mixed herbicide treatments could offer a strategic advantage in enhancing the quality of alfalfa feed through effective weed management, thereby improving CP and RFV, critical factors for the nutritional value of alfalfa. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing weed management practices in alfalfa cultivation, suggesting that mixed herbicide application, although associated with increased phytotoxicity on the plants, could improve the overall feed quality by reducing weed competition.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This work was carried out with the support of "The Cooperative Research Program for Agriculture Science and Technology Development (Project No. PJ01593901)", 2024 the RDA Fellowship Program of National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, and 2024 collaborative research program between university and Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.

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