Research Programmes->
Biotechnology Food Crops Horticultural & Industrial Crops Land & Water Management Livestock & Range Research Regional Adaptive Research Seed Research Socio-Economics & Biometrics Veterinary Vaccines Production Service Programmes->
Information and Documentation Services Special Programmes->
ARF ARIS ATIRI KAPP KASAL USAID E. Afr. agric. For. J. UPALNet-Kenya

Weed Control In Mixed Crops of Maize and Beans

These weeds will cost you money!

Grow maize and beans with less weeding

Weeds are plants that do more harm than good to crops. They take food and water from your crop. Do not allow them in your field. If you allow them you could lose more than half of your harvest. The new weed control methods described below will assist small-scale farmers to remove weeds with less labour and time

DIFFERENT WAYS TO CONTROL WEEDS

Common method

Hand weeding - It works when done 2 to 3 times for every crop but you may not find labour when you need it, and labour is expensive.

Other ways to control weeds in maize and beans

Use herbicides to kill weeds instead of hand weeding.

Grow beans together with maize.

Using either method will save you money in labour cost even though you have to buy the herbicide. You get the same yield of maize and beans as you do with hand weeding 2 or 3 times.

WHAT IS GOOD ABOUT THESE NEW METHODS?

They save you money because you do not need to hire labour for weeding during the peak period.

They save you time because weed control is done at planting or within 4 weeks after planting.

Ground cover by bean intercrop controls soil erosion.

THE NEW METHODS

Planting

The seed bed must be well prepared and trash removed.

Maize and bean seeds should be of good quality.

Add fertilizer or manure as recommended. Plant maize as recommended, that is 2112 ft between the rows and 1 foot within the rows. Plant 1 or 2 rows of beans between 2 maize rows. The aim is that after 7 weeks, the beans will cover the soil surface and smother the weeds.

Herbicide spraying

HERBICIDES AND RATES TO USE IN THE NEW METHOD
HERBICIDE	HOW MUCH
Galex 500EC	200 ml/20 Litre water 150 ml/15 Litre water
Lasso EC	200 ml/20 Litre water 150 ml/15 Litre water

Apply herbicide after planting when soil is moist or if water is expected ithin 7 days, BUT before crops and weeds emerge. Use your normal walking speed when spraying.

Herbicide mixing- half fill the spray knapsack with clean water then pour the required quantity of herbicide into the knapsack. Top up with clean water to the final volume required. Shake the mixture in the knapsack during mixing and application. Do not wait. Spray the herbicide mixture onto the soil surface so that the whole plot is covered.

Use protective clothing such as mouth mask, gloves and a coat when spraying. Also, use directions given by the manufacturer.

Galex 500EC is a pre-emergence herbicide and can also be used for weed control in soybeans, potatoes, sunflower and transplanted tomatoes and pepper.
Pre-emergence herbicides must be applied after
planting but before the crop and weeds emerge.

Lasso EC is also a pre-emergence herbicide and can be used for weed control in groundnuts, rape and sunflower.

Galex is for broad spectrum annual weeds control while Lasso is mainly for control of grasses only.

Compiled by JN Chui
KARI Headquarters Library
resource.center@kari.org
KARI/MUGUGA PO BOX 30148 NAIROBI