Efficiency Evaluation of Two Herbicides for the Eradication of Vernonanthura Polyanthese Weed in Forest Plantations

Author

Kadyadhori, Clayton

Title

Efficiency Evaluation of Two Herbicides for the Eradication of Vernonanthura Polyanthese Weed in Forest Plantations

Abstract

The weed, (Vernonanthura polyanthese), is a plant species of global importance in beekeeping. In Zimbabwe, management of the weeds is mainly based on the use cultural methods and some herbicides that have been rumoured to kill the weed. However, herbicide use has several adverse effects including increased cost of production, herbicide resistance, negative impacts to human health and the environment. The present study investigated an alternative control approach to Vernonanthura polyanthese that applied the herbicides as hand spraying. A field experiment was conducted at Cashel estate Chimanimani during the 2021-2022 summer season to evaluate the efficacy of two herbicides applied as chemical treatment for the control of Vernonanthura polyanthese in forest plantation. The trial was set up as a randomized experimental design with three treatments. Data for severity and weed incidence was collected three times at seven-day intervals starting from 14 days after spraying. The herbicide that performed the worst was roundup, which had a higher average severity and percentage increase than the other herbicide (triclopyr). Triclopyr can be used by foresters for Vernonanthura polyanthese control if its efficacy is validated after additional research since it killed about 80% of the sprayed weeds if not stems.

Date

2022

Publisher

BUSE

Keywords

Herbicides

Vernonanthura Polyanthese

Weed

Forest Plantations

Supervisor

N/A