Bixlozone + metribuzin (pre-mix) - a recent herbicide combination for managing herbicide resistant Phalaris minor and other weeds in wheat in North-West India

The assessment of the efficacy of premix herbicides that combine two different modes of action is crucial for achieving effective and broad-spectrum weed management in wheat, in view of the growing concern over development of herbicide resistance by weeds. A field experiment was conducted for two-years during Rabi 2021-22 and 2022-23, at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India using a randomized complete block design with three replicates. The objective of the study was to assess the efficacy of pre-mix herbicide combination of bixlozone 50% + metribuzin 10% WG (bixlozone + metribuzin) on herbicide resistant Phalaris minor and other weeds in wheat. The pre-mix of bixlozone + metribuzin at 600-750 g/ha with safener cloquintocet at 1000 mL/ha applied at one day before first irrigation [28-30 days after seeding (DAS)] recorded a reduction of 93.5-97.6% and 95.5-98.7% of P. minor, 100% of M. denticulata and 62.2-100% and 100% of R. dentatus biomass at 60 days after application (DAA) in 2021-22 and 2022-23, respectively. Moreover, this herbicide combination improved wheat grain yield by 24.4-22.1% in 2021-22 and 29.4-26.7% in 2022-23 compared to the weedy check. Thus, bixlozone + metribuzin (pre-mix) at 600-750 g/ha with safener cloquintocet at 1000 mL/ha applied at one day before first irrigation (28-30 DAS) provided effective control of diverse weed flora including herbicide resistant Phalaris minor and significantly improved the productivity of wheat in Punjab.