Field evaluation of fluorochloridone for broad-spectrum weed control in carrot (Daucus carota L.) in north-west India

Weed management has been one of the major components of carrot production where the critical period of weed competition is longer as the development of a carrot canopy is very slow. Thus, hand weedings must be applied to control weeds. In this context, use of residual herbicides assumes greater significance in this important root vegetable. The field efficacy of fluorochloridone, a residual pre-emergence herbicide, was evaluated in carrot over two years at Ludhiana, India. Fluorochloridone at 625 and 750 g ha−1 provided >90% control of annual grasses [Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop, Echinochloa colona (L.) Link, and Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn.], and broad leaf weeds [Digera arvensis Forssk., Chenopodium album (L.), and Amaranthus viridis (L.)] until 60 days after application. Fluorochloridone at 625 and 750 g ha−1 gave the highest carrot root yield (28.4–31.7 t ha−1) which was similar to the hand weeded check (29.5–32.6 t ha−1) and 25.4–26.3% higher than the weedy check (23.1–25.1 t ha−1) in both years. Findings imply that application of fluorochloridone at 625 g ha−1 could be a suitable option for pre-emergence residual control of annual grass and broadleaved weeds in carrot.