DOI: 10.36347/sajb.2018.v06i04.011

Pages: 359-365

Fluridone is recommended for glyphosate-resistant weeds in crop fields, but its persistence in soil and its residual effects are clearly discerned. This study was to test residual effects of Fluridone on the germination, growth and performance of groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.) seedlings, followed by a further bioassay using maize (to test if the effects persisted after harvest of the groundnut seedlings). The results show that groundnut seedlings did not exhibit any adverse effects of residual Fluridone in the test soil, following protracted wet and dry cycles, except for reduction in shoot-to-root ratio. Also, no effect of Fluridone was observed in maize after 10-days of growth after harvesting the groundnut seedlings. The differences in growth rate was not significant and no whitening of leaves, which is typical Fluridone effect, was not observed in the maize seedlings. The findings of this study suggest that the adverse soil residual effects of Fluridone on crops planted in the subsequent season may be avoided if tolerant species such as groundnut are planted instead of susceptible ones like maize (or cereals). The findings suggest a mix crop of groundnut and maize, with groundnut planted at least three weeks ahead of maize, may also withstand the residual effects of Fluridone. Nevertheless, it is suggested that further studies would be necessary, to discern the how to neutralise the residual effects of Fluridone in soil.