Performance Of Groundnut Arachis Hypogaea L. Varieties As Influenced By Weed Control Treatments In Kano State Of Nigeria

A field experiment was carried out during 2012 rainy season at the Research Farm of Bayero University Kano 110 58 N 80 26E and 475m above sea level and National Horticultural Research Institute Bagauda sub-station Bebeji local Government area of Kano State 110 33N 80 23E and 481m above sea level to find out the performance of varieties and weed control treatments on growth and development of groundnut Arachis hypogaea L.. The experiment consisted of two groundnut varieties SAMNUT-22 and SAMNUT-23 and 12 weed control treatments Metolachlor at 2 levels of 1.0 and 2.0kg a.i. ha Fluazifop-p butyl at 2 levels of 1.0 and 1.5 kg a.i. ha at pre or post-emergence or combined with hoe weeding at 15 days after sowing or supplementary hoe weeding at 30 days after sowing while weed free check at 15 and 30 days after sowing and weedy check were included as control. The treatments were laid out using split plot design with variety assigned to the main and weed control to the sub plot. The result showed that SAMNUT-22 out yielded SAMNUT-23 and exhibited superior growth and yield components such as stand count canopy height number of branches leaf area index plant dry weight. The application of Metolaclor at 1.0 kg a.i. ha followed by Fluazifop-p butyl at 1.0 kg a.i. ha as well as Metolaclor at 1.0 or 2.0 kg a.i. ha followed by supplementary hoe weeding produced significantly higher number of pods per plant and pod yield per hactare. Leaf area index and number of pod per plant were significantly and positively correlated with pod weight. Thus SAMNUT-22 can be recommended for the two study areas. Similarly application of Metolaclor at 1.0 kg a.i. ha followed by Fluazifop-p butyl at 1.0 kg a.i. ha and Metolaclor at 1.0 or 2.0 kg a.i. ha followed by supplementary hoe weeding could be recommended for weed control in groundnut in the study area.