Review article

Varying Rates of Butaforce® Herbicide for Weed Control; Implication on Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Growth, Yield and Yield Characters in Anyigba, Kogi State

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the price Abubakar Audu University Anyigba during the cropping season of the year 2022 to determine the effect of varying Butaforce® Herbicide on the growth, yield and yield characters of groundnut crop in Anyigba environment. Treatments consist of five Buta force rates; 0ml, 50 ml, 55 ml, 60 ml and 65 ml per 16 L of water respectively, applied to plots using a random number system at early stage of weed development. This experiment was laid in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four (4) replicates. Result shows that all growth characters of groundnut under examination were significantly influenced by different rates of Butaforce. Plant height, Number of Leaves, Leaf Area and stem girth were optimum at rate of 50ml/16L of Butaforce spray at respective sampling periods. Yield characters such as 100 seed weight and Pod yield were optimum at application rate 55ml/16L of Butaforce. Although, application at rate 55ml, 60ml and 65ml were statistically at par. Application of Butaforce® herbicide at rates aforementioned (55ml, 60ml and 65ml) performed equally with respect to yield characters, therefore this research recommends that spraying Butaforce timely at the rate of 55ml is optimum for yield performance of groundnut crop in Anyigba environment. Increasing spray doses above 55ml may inform toxicity to crop plants as well as beneficial microorganisms and the environment at large.