Response Of Carrot (Daucus Carota L.) Varieties To Weed Control Strategies In Sudan Savanna Agro-Ecology Of Nigeria

Field trials were conducted in 2019 dry season at the research farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Bayero University, Kano (11°58N, 8°26 E and 475 m above sea level) and Institute of Agriculture Research farm, Kadawa (11o11′N and 8o31.37′E and 500 m above sea level). These locations lie in the Sudan savanna ecological zone of Nigeria. The aim of the study was to evaluate the growth and yield response of carrot (Daucus carota L.) to weed control methods. Treatments consisted of two carrot varieties (Griffaton and VV), and Nine (9) weed control methods (Weedy check, Rice straw alone, Pendimethalin 1.0 kg a.i /ha + Rice straw, Pendimethalin 1.5 kg a. i/ha, Pendimethalin 1.0 kg a.i/ha followed by supplementary hoe weeding (SHW) at 6 weeks after sowing, Metolachlor 1.0 kg a.i/ha +Rice straw, Metolachlor 1.5 kg a.i/ha, Metolachlor 1.0 kg a.i/ha + followed by supplementary hoe weeding at 6weeks after sowing, and two Hoe weeding at 3 and 5 WAS). These were factorially combined and laid in a randomized complete block design and replicated four times. Data on growth, yield and weed characters were collected and analysed for their variance using Genstat 17th edition. Significant treatment means were ranked using Students- NewmanKeuls-test (SNK). The findings of the study revealed that carrot VV variety exhibited good growth and yield characters than Griffaton. The application of pendimethalin 1.0 kg a.i./ha followed by supplementary hoe weeding at 6 WAS gave better results in terms of taller plants, more number of leaves, longer roots, and total yield, while the weedy check recorded the least response in all the measured characters. These strategies of weed management appears to be more economical than other strategies.