The aim of weed control is to reduce competition below a given economic damage threshold to achieve optimum yield

Weeds compete with crops for nutrients, water light, space, oxygen and carbon dioxide.

The extent of yield reduction depends upon the time, duration and intensity of weed infestation.

Where agrochemicals are introduced as a new product it is useful to demonstrate the profitability of the new practice and the impact of the treatment cost on the whole economy of crop system.

We need to establish environmental and application methods that facilitate rapidity and increased duration of action of the product

The active ingredient (oxyfluorfen) is a member of the diphenyl ether group

of herbicides.

The product has the inhibitor of Protoporphyrinogen oxidase mode of

action.

Protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO) is an enzyme in the chloroplast of the

plant cell that oxidizes Protoporphyrinogen to produce protoporphyrin IX.

This product is important because it is a precursor molecule for both

chlorophyll (needed for photosynthesis) and heme (needed for electron

transfer chains).

This is a cereal crop taken from maize, harvested early when the ears are very young small and immature

It is actually eaten whole crop included in contrast with mature maize that usually has a tough cob

To determine efficacy of commander 240 EC

(Oxyfluorfen) at different rates in control of

different weeds species.

To determine the tolerance limit of baby corn to the

herbicide at different rates.

To determine net return and cost/benefit ratio

accruing from use of the herbicide in baby corn.

The trial will be carried out at the Efficacy trial site at the College of agriculture and veterinary services of the University of Nairobi, kabete field station farm during short rains in 2012 .

Land will be conventionally prepared by ploughing followed by harrowing and finally hand hoeing.

The experimental design will be complete randomized block design with each of seven treatment replicated three times for the crop.

The crop will be allocated 21 plots measuring 3 by 3 square meters

Treatment description Rate

1 Weed free No weeding to be done in the plot

2 Weedy throughout Complete weeding to be done prior to planting and at 2nd , 5th and 8th Weeks after planting

3 Farmers practice Weeded at 4th and 8th WAP

4 Below recommended rate of herbicide

1L/Ha commander 240EC (Oxyfluorfen) in 350L/Ha of H2O

5 Recommended herbicide rate

1.5L/Ha commander 240EC (Oxyfluorfen) in 350L/Ha of H2O

6 Above recommended herbicide rate

2L/Ha commander 240EC (Oxyfluorfen) in 350L/Ha of H2O

7 Standard herbicide 1L/Ha Galigan 240 EC(oxyfluorfen) in 350L/Ha of H2O

Commander 240 EC (oxyfluorfen) will be applied pre-

emergent to baby corn and pre- and post-emergent early to

weeds.

Baby corn will be planted at a spacing of 75cm by 30cm, this

will make a crop stand of 840 plants.

Overhead sprinkler irrigation will be used to supplement

rainfall.

BLOCK 3 BLOCK 1 BLOCK 2

PLOT 1: Treatment 7 PLOT 1: Treatment 4 PLOT 1: Treatment 6

PLOT 2: Treatment 5 PLOT 2: Treatment 1 PLOT 2: Treatment 3

PLOT3: Treatment 3 PLOT3: Treatment 6 PLOT 3: Treatment 2

PLOT 4: Treatment 4 PLOT 4: Treatment 3 PLOT 4: Treatment 5

PLOT 5: Treatment 2 PLOT 5: Treatment 7 PLOT 5: Treatment 1

PLOT 6:Treatment 1 PLOT 6: Treatment 5 PLOT 6: Treatment 4

PLOT 7: Treatment 6 PLOT 7 :Treatment 2 PLOT 7: Treatment 7

Germination and survival rate

Crop tolerance/ phytotoxicity of the test chemical to baby corn

Weed count by species

Climatic data-rainfall and temperature data shall be collected from the meteorological station at field station

Yield components

Cost benefit analysis; Total production cost will be compared with total income from yield to determine Net return in each of the treatments

DATE ACTIVITY

21st Dec 2012 Land preparation

28th Dec 2012 SowingApplication of all treatments

12th Jan 2013 Collection of data No. 1

13th Jan 2013 Application of treatment 2

27th Jan 2013 Collection of data number 2Application of treatments 2 & 3Weeding in the paths

29th Jan 2013 Application of CAN

12th Feb 2013 Collection of data number 3Application of treatment 2

26th Feb 2013 Collection of data number 4Application of treatments 2 & 3Weeding in the paths

11th march 2013 Collection of data number 5Application of treatment 2

28th march 2013 Collection of yield data

FUNCTION AMOUNT RATE (Ksh) TOTAL (Ksh )

Payment of casuals 10 400 4000

Purchase of seeds 1Kg 250 250

Purchase of DAP 4Kg 250 4000

Purchase of CAN 4Kg 250 4000

Printing and photocopies 36 copies --- 200

Irrigation 6 1000 6000

TOTAL 18450

Ciba-Geigy, 1981. Manual for trials in plant protection. Werner Puntener, agricultural

Division, Ciba-Geigy Limited< Switzerland.

Nyandat N.N. and D.O. Michieka. 1970. Soils in kirima kimwe, faculty of

agriculture farm. National Agricultural Laboratory. Ministry of agriculture. Kenya

www.Alanwood.net/pesticides/oxyfluorfen.html

www.babycenter.com>Home>baby>solidsandfingerfoods>foodsafety

(Washington state university portal)

www.infornetbiovision.org/crops

www.pmeo.cee.cornell.edu/profiles/extoxnet/metiram-propoxur/oxyfluorfen-

ext.html (EXTOXNET- Extension Toxicology Network, portal)