Weed control efficiency and yield response of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) to different herbicides.

Weeds are a major constraint to peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) production, causing substantial yield and quality losses. This study was conducted during the 2020 and 2021 growing seasons to evaluate the effects of different pre- and post-emergence herbicides on weeds and peanut yield under field conditions. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Treatments included one non-selective burndown herbicide (glyphosate), two pre-emergence herbicides (pendimethalin and dimethanamid p), four post-emergence herbicides (bentazon, quizalofop-p-ethyl, imazamox, clethodim), applied alone or in selected sequences. Weed control varied significantly with herbicides type, weed species, and evaluation time. Control levels increased markedly at 21 and 35 days after treatments (DAT) but declined by 105 DAT, indicating reduced residual activityand late weed emergence. The post-emergence combinations of bentazon + quizalofop-P-ethyl and bentazon + imazamox provided the highest weed control (88.2% and 88.9%, respectively) and significantly reduced weed dry biomass. Weed interference reduced peanut yield by approximately 60-70% copared with the weed-free control. All effective herbicide treatments significantly reduced weed biomass and prevent yield loss, leading to substiantially higher than the weedy control. Overall, the findings indicate that appropriate herbicide selection and optimized application timing play a critical role in achieving effective weed control and minimizing yield losses in peanut production.