Effects of Chemical Weed Control on Root Yield and Quality of Carrots (Daucus carota L.)

Abstract

Three field experiments were conducted during 1993 and 1994 growing seasons, to study the effect of weed control with linuron, metribuzin and their combinations with pendimethalin or prop-yzamide on root yield and quality of carrots (Daucus carota cv. Nantes). Results showed that mixing of pendimethalin with linuron or metribuzin improved weed control without causing phytotoxicities to carrots, while propyzamide mixture did not cause such an improvement. Pendimenthalin mixtures exhibited better weed control, growth of leaves; root yield and quality, marketable roots and higher root contents of ascorbic acid. Although propyzamide mixtures exhibited good weed control, they showed some phytotoxic effects to carrot plants. Both linuron and metribuzin were less effective than their mixtures in weed control and carrot yield. Propyzamide mixtures produced malformed roots, and were phytotoxic to carrot plants.