Two field experiments were conducted at the Experimental Station of the National Research Centre at Shalakan, Kalyoubia Governorate, Egypt, to study the influence of some weed control treatments i.e. Fluroxypyr (0.2 L / fed), Isoproturon (1.0 L / fed), Metribuzin (300 gm / fed), Tribenuron- methyl (8 gm / fed), Metosulam (0.03 L / fed), Bentazon (0.75 L / fed), Oxadiargyl(250 gm / fed), two hand hoeing and unweeded as check treatment on growth, yield, yield attributes, chemical composition of maize grains and study the response of associated weeds during the two successive seasons of 2006 and 2007.The main findings could be summarized as follows:
Weed control treatments had a significant effect on number, fresh and dry weight of maize weeds after 60 and 80 days from sowing (DFS). Two hand hoeing and Fluroxypyr provided the best treatments in controlling broad leaved weeds. Two hand hoeing, Metribuzin, Oxadiargyl and Fluroxypyr were significantly the best control treatments of grassy and total weeds up to 80 days after maize sowing as compared to other weed control treatments. Plant height, fresh and dry weight of shoot and leaves / plant were statistically increased as a result of controlling weeds. Two hand hoeing recorded the highest values of the previous characters followed by Metribuzin and Fluroxypyr treatments. Whereas, unweeded treatment showed the lowest values for all characters under study.
Two hand hoeing and the herbicidal treatments markedly increased yield and yield attributes, i.e. weight of ears / plant, ear length (in the first season), number of kernels / row and grain yield / fed. Maximum values of the previous characters were recorded from two hand hoeing, Metribuzin, Fluroxypyr and Oxadiargyl treatments. Weed control treatments significantly increased chemical composition of maize grains when compared with unweeded check. The highest values of carbohydrates and protein percentages were obtained from two hand hoeing followed by Metribuzin and Fluroxypyr treatments. Meanwhile, the highest values of oil percentage were recorded by application of Metribuzin followed by Fluroxypyr, Oxadiargyl and two hand hoeing treatments.
It could be summarized that for maximizing maize yield and its quality by two hand hoeing treatment or using Metribuzin as pre – emergence herbicide and / or using Fluroxypyr as post – emergence after 21 DFS under the environmental conditions of the experiment.