Control of Kikuyu Grass

Abstract

Tillage and glyphosate/tillage regimes were evaluated for control of Kikuyu grass in wheat under Kenyan conditions. On sod, control of Kikuyu grass was better where the mouldboard plow was used than where the other tillage Implements were used. On wheat stubble, there were no significant differences in control of Kikuyu grass bwetween the mouldboard plow, the disc plow and the chisel plow. Kikuyu grass control and wheat yields were better when tillage was performed in November than when tillage was performed later, with or without glyphosate. Control of Kikuyu grass and gain yield were higher when tillage followed glyphosate application within 21 days than when glyphosate was applied in November and tillage delayed until May. Kikuyu grass control and grain yield were better when glyphosate was applied in November and January than when glyphosate was applied in February and May. Kikuyu grass control was better at 4 l/ha than at 2 and 3 l/ha of glyphosate. Twelve nodes of one stolon branch of a Kikuyu grass plant were treated with glyphosate. TWo days after treatment glyphosate had translocated to the rhizomes. Four days after treatment glyphosate had translocated to untreated stolons of the same plant. Translocation of glyphosate to rhizomes appeared to be better than to untreated stolons of the same plant. Kikuyu grass plants were established from single node cuttings of stolons and rhizomes. Plants from stolons were always bigger than plants from rhizomes. EPTC and fluazifop-butyl were evaluated for control of Kikuyu grass in sunflower. Fluazifop-butyl gave good control of Kikuyu grass. EPTC did not control Kikuyu grass.