Report on Verification of Mogfeen 240EC efficacy on Garlic (Allium sativum L) weeds at Bale zone, South Eastern Ethiopia

Garlic Herbicide verifi cation trial was conducted at Goba and Sinana districts of Bale highlands south eastern Ethiopia. CBD was used for this experiment. Mogfeen 240EC herbicide was verifi ed by SARC at on station and Goba in 2018 Gena season. The effects of herbicide on the growth, yield components and Yield of Garlic had determined. On the other hand, parameters such as relative weed density (RWD), Weed Index (WI) and Weed Control Index (WCI) were collected to determine the effi cacy of Mogfeen 240EC on broadleaf weeds, Sedges and Grass weeds. Accordingly, 99% of Broad leaf weeds and 1% grass weeds were observed before herbicide application. Mogfeen 240EC reduces broad leaves weed by about 82.73% and grass weeds by about 63.022% within fi rst round application. On the other hand, the effi ciency of this herbicide in controlling broad leaves weeds within the fi rst round application round was about 73.17% whereas its effi ciency in controlling grass weeds was 93.22%. Within the second round application 15 days later of fi rst round application all weeds were controlled completely. On the other hand, plots treated with the herbicide showed about 68.42%, 7.02% yield advantage over weed free and hand weeded plots respectively. Therefore, Mogfeen 240EC herbicide was verifi ed and recommended for the production of Garlic at Bale and similar agro ecologies. Research Article Report on Verifi cation of Mogfeen 240EC effi cacy on Garlic (Allium sativum L) weeds at Bale zone, South Eastern Ethiopia Guta Eshetu* and Mohammedamin Abdulrezak Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, Sinana Agricultural Research center, P.O.Box 208, Ethiopia Received: 01 September, 2020 Accepted: 19 October, 2020 Published: 20 October, 2020 *Corresponding author: Guta Eshetu, Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, Sinana Agricultural Research center, P.O.Box. 208, Ethiopia, E-mail:


Introduction
Garlic (Allium sativum L) is one of the important bulb crop grown in the world as well as in Ethiopia for a long period of time. Botanically it is known as Allium sativum and is a member of Aliacea family. It is native to central Asia. Garlic contains active ingredients known as Allicin which gives its pungent fl avor along with ample of health benefi ts [1].
Garlic production spread throughout the country and has been cultivated under irrigated as well as rain fed conditions, mainly in the mid and highlands of Ethiopia [2]. According to Ethiopia central statistical agency report of 2016/2017; 15,381 ha of land was covered by Garlic and 1,386,643.07 Quintals of Garlic were produced annually. On the other hand, this report also indicated that about 90.15 Quintals of Garlic can be harvested from one hectare of land (CSA, 2016/17).
Despite the higher importance of the crop its production and productivity is very low due to different problems. There are many Biotic and A biotic factors contributing for lower production of Garlic among which in appropriate agronomic practice especially weeding is the major problem.
Weed infestation in garlic is one of the major factors for loss in yield and bulb loss to the tune of 30-60% [3]. Weed reduces the bulb yield to the extent of 40 to 80% [4,5]. In garlic shallow root system make mechanical method of weed control diffi cult and sometimes causes damage to developing bulbs [3].
The predominant weed fl ora that hampers the growth and yield of crop vary with soil type, moisture, and other climatic factors.
Garlic is closely planted and shallow rooted bulbous crop.

Materials and methods
The Experiment was conducted at Sinana On station and Goba to determine the effi cacy of herbicide brought from abroad. Sinana is located at about 460 Km ton southeast of Addis Ababa and it has an altitude of 2400 m above sea level.

Relative weed density
Defi ned as the ratio of particular weed species to total weed population expressed in percentage. Therefore, it was calculated by dividing the number of particular weed species by total weed species in experimental plot.

Statistical data analysis
All data were collected and analyzed using GenStat 15 th Edition computer software. The signifi cant difference among treatments was determined using Duncan Multiple range test (DMRT) at 5% level of signifi cance.

Result and discussion
To determine the effi cacy of herbicide weed density was determined by categorizing them into broad leaf weeds and grass weeds since they were the main investigated types of weeds. Different Weed species were investigated at SARC on station and whereas only Avena fatua was observed at Goba Experimental site.
The detailed description of the observed weeds at both experimental sites is depicted in the following table 1.
Number of Broad leaves and Grass weeds per m 2 were determined at the time of mogfeen240EC application for each plot. Accordingly; average number of broad leaves weeds (759.43) and grass weeds (30) were observed per m 2 at Sinana Experimental site. The relative weed density of grass and Broad leaf weeds was also calculated. Accordingly, 99% of Broad leaf weeds and 1% grass weeds were observed before herbicide application. In weed free plot during application 92.12% of broad leaves weeds and 7.88% of grass weeds were investigated. However, at Goba experimental site Only Avena Fatua was investigated. On the other hand, at the same time with herbicide application hand weeding was also done for adjacent plot for comparison. Application of herbicide was continued within fi fteen days' interval in similar ways with Citation: Eshetu  Five days later of Mogfeen240EC application, numbers of weeds were counted using the same procedure. The following data were recorded after fi rst round spray before the second round herbicide application.
As it is indicated in the above table number of both broad leaves weed and grass weeds were reduced after application of Mogfeen240EC and this contribution enhances the crop growth parameters, Yield components and Yield of Garlic. Mogfeen240EC reduces broad leaves weed by about 82.73% and grass weeds by about 63.022% within fi rst round application. On the other hand, the effi ciency of this herbicide in controlling broad leaves weeds within the fi rst round application round was about 73.17% whereas its effi ciency in controlling grass weeds was 93.22%. This indicates the effi cacy of the herbicides the requirements of second round herbicide application Table  2. The weed control Index of herbicide of the second round application is greater than that of the fi rst round application.
This may due to the lower density of weeds during second round application and the weakness of weeds to stand against herbicide Table 3.  Table 4.

Conclusion and recommendation
Mogfeen240EC was applied to Garlic to control all weeds     Hand weeded 0 0 0 0