Evaluation of Pre-emergence Herbicides Efficacy and Their Combinations on Weeds Population at Ezha Woreda, Central Ethiopia

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is one of the most important pulses cultivated in Ethiopia. Hence, a field experiment was conducted to investigate to evaluate the efficacy of herbicide on weed the population and yield of chickpea at Ezha district. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design and replicated three times. Pre-emergence (Pendimethalin and S-metolachlor) herbicides were applied alone at a different rate, with their combination as well as supplemented with one time hand weeding, two-time hand weeding, completely weed-free and weedy treatments. Applying the herbicides alone at a different rate reduced the density and dry matter of the weeds in chickpea as compared with control. The higher weed controlling efficacy, Herbicide Efficiency Index, weed Index and yield were recorded from the application of S-metolachlor at 1.0kg ha<sup>-1</sup> supplemented by one time hand weeding with five weeks after emergence (65.5%, 2.4%, 13.4% and 2227kgha<sup>-1</sup>) and Pendimethalin at 1.0 kg ha<sup>-1</sup> with time one hand weeding and hoeing at 5 WAE (65.7%, 2.4% 18.6% and 2098.3 kgha<sup>-1</sup>) respectively. The higher weed density and the lower yield was recorded from the control plots (58.7 and 690.3 kgha<sup>-1) </sup>respectively. However; weed-free, Hand weeding at 2 and 5 WAE treatments was the most effective for controlling the weeds and increasing the chickpea yield as compared with other treatments. Therefore; based on yield applying S-metolachlor at 1kg ha<sup>-1</sup> supplemented by one time hand weeding at five weeks after emergence is the best option of effective chickpea production for extensive farming and complete weed-free, Hand weeding at 2 and 5 WAE were recommended for intensive farming methods.