Effect of Trifluralin (Agreflan 48% ES (Applied Pre-Plant for Weed Control in Alfalfa

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Shambat Research Station Farm, Khartoum, Sudan, during the 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 winter seasons to evaluate the efficacy and crop selectivity of Agreflan 48% ES (trifluralin) for weed control in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). The herbicide was evaluated at three application rates (0.63, 0.84 and 1.05 L/fed) as a pre-plant soil treatment, applied 14 days prior to sowing and either mechanically incorporated or immediately irrigated into the soil. All herbicide treatments significantly reduced weed biomass. No phytotoxic symptoms were observed on the alfalfa crop. Uncontrolled weed competition reduced total alfalfa dry matter yield by 25% and 21% in the first and second seasons, respectively. Fresh and dry matter yields were consistently higher in herbicide-treated plots than in the unweeded control, attributable to effective weed suppression. No residues of Agreflan 48% ES were detected in any alfalfa samples.